Stevens Indicator - Winter 2011-2012 by Stevens Alumni Association

WINTER 2011-2012

THE MAGAZINE OF THE STEVENS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

G True to the Red & ray!

Alumni Weekend 2012 June 1, 2, 3 E ‘STATE OF STEVENS’ ADDRESS E ALUMNI LUNCHEON E REUNIONS

E ALUMNI DINNER DANCE E COCKTAIL PARTIES E FAMILY FUN

For more details, call 201-216-5163 or visit alumni.stevens.edu.

The Stevens Indicator

The Magazine of the Stevens Alumni Association

Winter 2011-2012

Features

Leading the Lab

Birnur Aral, M.Eng. ’90, Ph.D. ’96, heads product testing for Good Housekeeping Research Institute. By Lisa Torbic, Associate Editor

Reaching for the Stars

John G. Puente, M.S. ’60, recalls his extraordinary career as a telecommunications satellite pioneer and entrepreneur. By Beth Kissinger, Editor

A Winning Investment

Generous gift from financial services CEO Sean Hanlon ’80 helps to create a financial systems lab on campus. By Paul Karr, Special to The Stevens Indicator

Wanted: Future Engineers

Phil Kimball ’62 searches for the next generation of scientists and engineers. By Lisa Torbic, Associate Editor

Playing the Field

Another great fall season ends as Ducks finish particularly strong in soccer, tennis.

14 Stevens Goes Truly Co-ed In 1971, the first female undergraduates stepped on the Stevens campus and the Institute made history. Celebrate the past 40 years as you read profiles of inspiring Stevens alumnae. By Beth Kissinger, Editor; Lisa Torbic, Associate Editor, and Stevens Office of News and Media Relations On the Cover—Since September 1971, women have been admitted as undergraduates at Stevens—an historic moment that changed the face of the campus forever.

By Robert Kulish, Stevens’ Director of Sports Information and Events

The Kindness of Strangers

Former Air Force Capt. Edward Egan ’40 shares a letter that he wrote to his sweetheart almost 67 years ago, recalling a crash landing in the Philippines—and the people who cared for him and fellow servicemen—during World War II.

PHOTO: JEFFREY VOCK

Winter 2011-2012 1

2012 Volume 130 Number 1

The Stevens Indicator

Executive Director Anita Lang

The Magazine of the Stevens Alumni Association

Winter 2011-2012

Editor Beth Kissinger Associate Editor Lisa Torbic

Published quarterly by the Stevens Alumni Association, member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

Dr. Xiaoguang Meng, professor of Environmental Engineering at Stevens, visited Bangladesh this past fall to test his water filtration methods—the fifth trip he’s made to the country since 1999. Here, he tests a column filtration system for removal of manganese and iron from groundwater during his most recent trip.

Third-class postage paid at Burlington, VT. Printed at The Lane Press, Inc., Burlington, VT. © 2012 Stevens Alumni Association Indicator correspondence The Stevens Indicator Stevens Alumni Association Castle Point Hoboken, NJ 07030 Phone: (201) 216-5161 Fax: (201) 216-5374

Indicator e-mail Letters to the Editor: editor@alumni.stevens.edu

Departments

Class log submissions: alumni-log@stevens.edu

3-5 Presidents’ Corner 6

General SAA inquiries Contact the Alumni Office Phone: (201) 216-5163 Fax: (201) 216-5374 E-mail: alumni@stevens.edu

8 President Farvardin travels the nation to greet Stevens alumni.

11 Campus visit of Reagan, Sinatra recalled.

2 The Stevens Indicator

Grist From the Mill 6

Professor works with UNICEF to develop water treatment techniques in Bangladesh

Love of waves leads to doctoral work on beach erosion

Presidential Receptions capture alumni coming to meet Dr. Nariman Farvardin

Regina Pynn ’11 sings the praises of Stevens’ Co-op program

Frank Sinatra, Hon. D.Eng. ’85, visited Stevens twice in the ’80s, and then-Police Chief Charles Smith captured both visits on film. Stephen Smith ’78 shares these one-of-a-kind family photos.

Alumni Business Directory

Clubs

Graduate Log

Vital Statistics

Looking Back

Presidents’ Corner Dear Fellow Alumni and Friends, It seems that I have started several of these columns with some sort of metaphor, but as the bitter winter is fading into spring and we will soon see all of the blooming plants, growth and beauty around us, I cannot help but think about all of the amazing growth at Stevens. President Nariman Farvardin has not yet been here a full year, but already he has had a dramatic impact on our campus, our student body, our reputation and on all of us—the alumni. His Initiative for Excellence and his call to make this decade “The Stevens Decade’’ have been met with so much enthusiasm; it is truly a turning point for our alma mater. I want to thank so many of you who have risen to the challenge that President Farvardin has put out there and given of your time, your financial support and your ideas to help move Stevens forward. I know that we will keep it up and that even more of you will get involved. It is also fitting that as we embark on so many exciting things for Stevens, we reflect on a significant part of our history: 40 years of undergraduate women at Stevens. For so many of us alumni, it’s hard to picture Stevens without women since they were (and are) so influential in all of our organizations, teams, faculty, administration and alumni when we were students, but it is actually not that long ago that Stevens was an all-male undergraduate student body. As you will see from the amazing profiles in this magazine—and the many more to come in future issues—Stevens’ history would be much less rich without the women who are members of the Stevens Alumni Association. The Stevens community is also very deep into the strategic planning efforts for the university. You can find the latest information at www.stevens.edu/strategy. So many of you attended the Town Hall meeting concerning this effort last November, and many of you have joined the subcommittees, and we appreciate all of the support. Please make sure to sign up for a focus group on the strategic planning website and get involved if you want to affect upcoming years of innovation at Stevens. Another person who is making a significant impact on our university right out of the gate is featured in this issue. You can read a profile of one of our newest Stevens Board of Trustees members and fellow alumnus Sean Hanlon ’80 who, in addition to all of his board duties, is using his success and experience to help build the financial engineering labs and curriculum of this school—yet another Stevens innovation. In a few short months, we will have the first Alumni Weekend with Dr. Farvardin as president and, for this reason, this Alumni Weekend (June 1, 2 and 3) is not one to be missed. More information will be coming shortly, but I hope to have record-breaking attendance this year to show Dr. Farvardin just how much we all love this school and appreciate everything he is doing for her.

Mark I. LaRosa ’93 President, Stevens Alumni Association larosam@alumni.stevens.edu

Winter 2011-2012 3

Springing forward to new heights: an update Dear Alumni and Friends, As we look forward to spring and the exciting time leading up to the Stevens Commencement, I want to update you on the progress that we’re making to improve your alma mater—and to thank you for all that you do to make the university a better place. This past winter, I’ve met so many alumni, both on campus and throughout the country, who have shared their knowledge of Stevens, their valuable ideas and their support, for their alma mater and of me personally. To all the alumni I’ve met in Washington, D.C., California, Texas, Georgia, New York and right here in New Jersey and Hoboken, to those whom I’ve spoken with over the phone and met with individually, thank you—for your great insight, your involvement and your love of Stevens. You have my deepest gratitude for the warm reception you have given me. At Stevens, we have spent a very productive winter on our path to taking Stevens to even greater heights of achievement. The university’s strategic planning process is progressing well, with involvement from an outstanding committee that represents a wide swath of the Stevens community. They have received an abundance of excellent ideas as we chart Stevens’ ascent over the next decade. For more information, please visit www.stevens.edu/strategy. We have also begun the process of master planning, with another exemplary committee from the Stevens and Hoboken communities. This committee will develop the Stevens Master Plan to address a variety of needs, from capital construction to goals for sustainability. We are a determined group, and I pledge that these important efforts will lead to concrete action, to make Stevens a much stronger, more vibrant university, serving future generations of young men and women for many years to come. In the fall of 1971, women entered Stevens as undergraduates for the first time and changed the face of the university forever. That first class was an extraordinary group of women who paved the way for many outstanding Stevens alumnae over the next four decades, among them top engineers, scientists, executives, educators and entrepreneurs. You can read the stories of some Stevens women from the past four decades in this issue. Stevens has made great strides in promoting the role of women and increasing their participation in campus life over the past 40 years. But much more work remains to be done. To enhance the status of women at Stevens, I have formed a Presidential Commission for the Advancement of Women at Stevens. This 18-member panel, which includes Stevens alumnae, professors, administrators and students, will make recommendations to help make Stevens a more supportive and nurturing environment for women. It will also offer insight into how to increase the number of female students and faculty on campus. The Commission will prepare its recommendations by the end of this academic year, and the entire Stevens community anticipates their important report.

4 The Stevens Indicator

The President’s Initiative for Excellence—the three-year fundraising effort to improve the student experience, from scholarships to improved facilities—continues to enjoy strong support from you, our Stevens alumni. As of February 2012, we were well on our way toward exceeding our target of raising $8.5 million during this fiscal year. If you have joined us on this journey, thank you so much for your generosity. I invite all alumni to join us; any way that you can assist us will help tremendously and touch the lives of Stevens students for years to come. This spring, we will have also launched Dr. Nariman Farvardin speaks with guests at the the GOLD Rush: The Chairman’s Challenge— Washington, D.C. Club holiday party last December in an exciting new effort to engage our young Bethesda, Md. alumni, the Graduates of the Last Decade, through a matching gift provided by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Larry T. Babbio, Jr.’66. Alumni Weekend is June 1, 2 and 3, 2012, and we invite you to be “True to the Red and Gray!” All alumni, their families and friends are urged to come to enjoy an exciting variety of activities designed to appeal to everyone, from our reunion classes to families, young alumni and our revered “Old Guard.” This year, the golden anniversary Class of 1962 will be honored during the Alumni Luncheon; you can meet one of the class’s many interesting alumni, Phil Kimball ’62, in this issue. I look forward to meeting with you and filling you in on the “State of Stevens.” Please come back to visit old friends, see the campus and witness all of the wonderful changes here and around Hoboken. Connect again with Stevens. Your friends would love to see you, and you’ll be so happy that you came. Stevens has entered a new and exciting era, and we need you to be part of it. We’ve enjoyed such a strong school year, from an outstanding freshman class to many achievements on the research front and a renewed sense of optimism. We are on our way to becoming an even stronger university. I am committed to making this happen, but I need your help. Please continue to share your ideas and thoughts with me; you will never know how much they, and you, are truly valued. Sincerely,

Nariman Farvardin President, Stevens Institute of Technology PresidentFarvardin@stevens.edu (201) 216-5213 Stevens Institute of Technology Wesley J. Howe Center 1 Castle Point Hoboken, NJ 07030

Winter 2011-2012 5

Grist From the Mill Research Bytes Professor offers water treatment solutions in Bangladesh A Stevens professor made his fifth trip to Bangladesh last fall in his latest effort to provide clean drinking water for people battling the largest environmental contamination in history. Dr. Xiaoguang Meng, Hon. M.Eng. ’10, a professor of environmental engineering and an expert in water treatment systems, spent a month in Bangladesh last fall, where he worked with UNICEF to develop and demonstrate water treatment techniques to remove pollutants from well water and provide safe drinking water. Their efforts focused on two areas: doing filtration tests of a method to remove manganese and iron from well water, and demonstrating a household “chlorination/dechlorination” container Dr. Xiaoguang Meng, professor of Environmental Engineering at that Meng has developed to provide dis- Stevens, visited Bangladesh this past fall to test his water filtration methods—the fifth trip he’s made to the country since 1999. infected drinking water without the chloHere, during his most recent trip, he tests a column filtration sysrine smell and taste. The majority of peo- tem for removal of manganese and iron from groundwater. ple in this country of 156 million don’t have access to clean drinking water, manganese and iron involves a filtration device that Naturally high levels of dissolved metals in is still under development. Field testing results of the groundwater pollute millions of private wells in device will help UNICEF construct 10 community Bangladesh, affecting tens of millions of people. water treatment systems, which will remove these Meng first visited Bangladesh in 1999 and, with oth- metals; Meng estimates they will be ready for use in er researchers from Stevens’ Center for Environmen- about two years. tal Systems, has focused mostly on combating highThe chlorination/dechlorination device, meanly-toxic arsenic in the groundwater. Arsenic in the while, is now being used by a handful of families, as country’s water has affected the health of more than Meng and his colleagues work to obtain grants for 50 million people in the country and is the largest large scale testing and for use in the country. Meng environmental contamination in history, he says. specializes in water treatment technologies that On this recent trip though, where he worked blend cutting-edge research with affordable, easy-toboth in the nation’s capital, Dhaka, and in a rural vil- use techniques, and his chlorination device is exlage, Meng and his team targeted manganese and ceedingly simple. The water container contains a iron and promoted use of the chlorination/dechlor- carbon filter. A family uses a few drops of a simple ination water container, which resembles a large pic- bleach solution to disinfect the water, and the filter nic drink container. helps provide them safe drinking water while elimiWhile necessary in moderation, at high levels, nating the unpleasant chlorine smell and taste. both manganese and iron give water an unpleasant Chlorination is widely available as a water treatment flavor and color and are associated with various in the country, but it has met resistance because of health risks. Excessive manganese has been shown to the taste and smell. Meng’s hope is that people will cause neurological damage, especially in developing be more likely to adopt this simple household techchildren. High iron levels can support bacterial nique to keep their water safe. growth, which fouls drinking water and causes deadChlorination helps prevent bacterial and viral ly diarrheal disease. Where arsenic is present, the pathogen transmission through contaminated chemical will bond with ferric compounds, making drinking water and food, the main causes of diariron removal a key ingredient in fighting arsenic rheal disease. In Bangladesh, diarrhea is a leading contamination. cause of death in children under 5, accounting for The system that Meng has developed to remove 11 percent of all child deaths. Diarrheal disease is re6 The Stevens Indicator

sponsible for the deaths of 1.8 million people worldwide every year and is the second leading cause of death in children under 5, according to the World Health Organization. On his first trip to Bangladesh in 1999, Meng introduced a coprecipitation-filtration technique to treat arsenic contamination in water. The system requires a plastic bucket, sand and a disposable packet of chemicals and costs the average family $5 annually. In Bangladesh, Meng met people with amputated hands and feet, lost to cancer developed by drinking arsenic contaminated water. While he has managed many water treatment projects over the years, he says that his work in Bangladesh is the most meaningful to him. “There is a different value; you’re saving people’s lives,” he says. In a country where most people don’t have access to clean water and no money to buy bottled water, “you want to give them a solution,” he says. “You see immediately the impact of your work—they start drinking clean water.” —Beth Kissinger and Stevens Office of News and Media Relations

potential. To develop these reefs, Bak produces computer models and scale physical demonstrations of artificial reef schemes that will one day become permanent fixtures along popular New Jersey beaches. Artificial reefs are meant to replace beach replenishment or beach nourishment—the adding of sand to widen or restore a beach, a common response to beach erosion. The replenishment starts working immediately and causes no problems to marine life if the sand is mostly mud-free. But “beach replenishment can ruin waves and regularly takes beaches out of commission because new sand has to be added again and again,” Bak says. One problem in nourishing beaches is that imported sand often has a different grain size than native sand. Adding smaller grain sand leads to the tide taking too much from the shoreline when being swept away, creating a mellow slope that bottoms out incoming waves. Larger grains cause steep slopes, which make the waves break too close to shore or not at all. When beach replenishment cuts waves in one part of the shore, surfers must jostle for fewer surfing spots. This impacts not only surfers, but shore Love of waves leads to doctoral work businesses, where surfers and beachgoers are a major on beach erosion economic contributor. Being a beach bum and a Ph.D. candidate go Artificial reefs that change beach conditions are hand-in-hand for Spicer Bak. This ocean engineer- a relatively new concept, but have become a hot toping graduate student and avid surfer studies beach ic among surfers after several successful projects in erosion to try to protect America’s coastlines. He’s Australia and California. Bak is building on the data also using support from a unique from those successes to create his National Science Foundation own reef designs. graduate student scholarship proBak also takes his passion for gram to share his excitement for the ocean to area high schools as science and the sea with New Jerpart of the National Science Founsey high school students. dation GK-12 Fellow program. As Coastal protection is a major a fellow, Bak receives NSF support topic for government agencies, for his Ph.D. studies and research ocean scientists and beach lovers in return for teaching high school around the world. It’s also a big issophomores basic engineering and sue among surfers, a vocal and enscience principles through lessons gaged group among beach users. about the water. Spicer Bak Due to his love of surfing, Bak To make chemistry more appealstrives to discover new ways to preserve beaches ing, Bak brought in scuba gear to demonstrate the without reducing the chance of catching a wave. importance of chemistry in scuba diving. As the kids “There is a great need today for a solution that kicked around in his flippers and wore oxygen tanks, preserves beachfront without damaging recreational he explained how divers must monitor the nitrogen value, and do so in a relatively natural and more per- concentration in their tanks to avoid the bends. manent way,” said Stevens Professor Thomas HerBak says he is “stoked” that he gets to combine rington ’89, M.Eng. ’92, Ph.D. ’97, Bak’s adviser engineering and a love for ocean in a career. “It’s and assistant director of Stevens’ Center for Mar- almost like a romantic fantasy that I get to do reitime Systems. search related to surfing.” —Stevens Office of News Bak and Dr. Herrington propose installing arti- and Media Relations ficial reefs in the water, which will influence waves For more stories on research at Stevens, go to and protect seaside property yet maintain surfing www.stevens.edu. Winter 2011-2012 7

Presidential Receptions around the nation Since the fall, Stevens has hosted a number of Presidential Receptions for alumni to meet President Nariman Farvardin. Dr. Farvardin has been traveling across the country and across the state to update

alumni on what’s going on at Castle Point. As these pictures show, alumni from throughout the years have turned out to hear what Dr. Farvardin has had to say about their alma mater. More Presidential Receptions are planned, so watch for news on them.

Dr. Nariman Farvardin, at right, greets Joe Schneider ’46 and Nancy Catello at the HudsonUnion-Essex holiday party, held in the Babbio Center this past December.

At the holiday party for the Stevens Alumni Club of Washington, D.C., last December, Dr. Nariman Farvardin, president of Stevens, gave a Presidential Pin to Ray Durante ’50, the party’s host. For the past two decades, Ray and Dorothy Durante have hosted the Club’s holiday party at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland.

Dr. Nariman Farvardin presents an inscribed pen box to Atlanta Club President Art Bendelius ’58 and his wife, Ginny, at a Presidential Reception in Atlanta in January.

8 The Stevens Indicator

In September, Rosa and John Hovey ’57 hosted the first Presidential Reception of Dr. Nariman Farvardin’s tenure as president of Stevens. Pictured are, from left, Fred Paulson ’59, Rosa Hovey, Hoveida and Nariman Farvardin and John Hovey.

Frank Semcer ’65, at left, enjoys catching up with Tom Moschello ’63 and Dr. Nariman Farvardin at the MorrisPassaic and Middlesex-Somerset Alumni Clubs reception for the Stevens president, held in Morristown, N.J., in November.

The Stevens Alumni Club of Houston hosted Dr. Nariman Farvardin, front row, third from right, as he traveled to meet them and discuss future plans for Stevens. Also traveling to Houston in November was Dawn daSilva, Stevens assistant vice president for development, front row fourth from right, and Ed Eichhorn ’69, Stevens vice president for development, in the last row on the left. Winter 2011-2012 9

M.S. ’91(director of Cooperative Education). I was Sky’s the limit for co-op graduate sold. My parents were a little skeptical, but then now working with aircraft engines For Regina Pynn ’11, being a part of the Coop- they heard more about it and said that everyone erative Education program at Stevens really was life should do this.” But co-op provided more than an academic educhanging. There, she learned what she liked, but cation. Pynn shared the story of how, after snagging more importantly, what she didn’t like. During her five co-op assignments, she worked a coveted co-op job interview, she realized she needin a variety of industries, from a toothpaste factory ed a car to get there. And, more importantly for this to an HVAC company to the Kennedy Space Cen- New Yorker, she needed a driver’s license. “I never ter. The variety of employment sites made things drove a car before,” said the woman from Brooklyn, clearer for her, she said, and allowed her the freedom N.Y. “I literally took the driver’s test on a Friday and had the interview on Monday.” to know what she wanted in terms of her career. In between school work and co-op, Pynn manCo-op students mix an academic curriculum with work internships and generally graduate in five aged a full life on campus as well. During her last year, she served as editor-in-chief years. The co-op program at of The Stute and previously worked Stevens celebrated its 25th anniverthere as a staff writer. She resary in 2011, with an alumni refounded Red Shift, the student litunion last June, and has produced erary magazine, where she was also more than 1,700 participants. editor-in-chief, worked on the Stevens has had five NJ CooperaMacy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade tive Education Students of the inflation team and was a member Year during the past seven years. of the equestrian team. She was Besides Pynn, previous recipients also a Resident Assistant and include Michael Phipps in 2004, served as president, vice president Jibu Abraham 2005, Poitr Czereand secretary to the Residence Hall chowski 2006 and Keith Cassidy Association. 2008. In 2005, Daniel Mirota ’06 Regina Pynn ’11 Co-op also provided her the was named the National Cooperative Education Student of the Year by the American chance to meet new people, including Andy Kozak, Society for Engineering Education, an honor that a fellow engineer and co-worker at the HVAC facilCassidy also won in 2008. And in June, Pynn was ity. The two kept in touch. “As a young engineer, I awarded the 2011 NJ Cooperative Education Stu- wanted to associate myself with admirable professional engineers. I really value his advice,” she said. dent of the Year Award. After Kozak left the HVAC company, he entered “An exceptionally talented young woman, Regina’s dynamic personality and proactive approach the literary world and now co-owns a publishing comhave allowed her to succeed academically, profes- pany in New York called 5th Epoch Publishing, which sionally and experientially,” reads the submission writes, publishes and markets role-playing game prodfrom the Office of Cooperative Education at ucts in print form and downloadable electronic files. Stevens. “We can attest to Regina’s accomplishments When Kozak found out about Pynn’s writing backboth inside and outside the classroom. Scholar, ground, he offered her a contract to write a rule book leader, engineer—these words only partially describe for an online gaming site, “Metal, Magic and Lore.’’ Pynn jumped at the chance. If all goes well, the book this exceptional young woman.” Pynn sings the praises of co-op. “I tried a bunch will be out later this year or early 2013. “I am so excited. To think that two years after I of stuff that allowed me to figure it all out. I had time to really learn and explore what I wanted,” she said. graduate college, I could be a published author and “Once I began working in the aerospace field, I …, well, it’s always been a dream of mine.” “All good things begin with co-op,” she said. knew that’s where I wanted to be.” And co-op alShe’s thankful for all of her co-op experiences lowed her to chart a career path through her internships. During the summer of 2010, Pynn worked at and, most importantly, for her Stevens education. a co-op program at Hamilton Sundstrand in Con- She encouraged all future Stevens alumni to take adnecticut, her second job placement at the company. vantage of what the University has to offer. “Stevens has a lot of resources—the people, the After her second job stint was over, she received a full-time job offer upon graduation and last June, activities. See how many you can look into and don’t began her career as a project engineer working with define yourself. Expand your scope,” she said. So where does she see herself in 10 years? “I see aircraft engines. Pynn earned her undergraduate degree in mechan- myself as busy. Stevens helped me develop the skills ical engineering, a master’s in systems engineering and to lead projects and teams and I found it’s something I’m drawn to. Wherever I am in 10 years, I know I’m a graduate certificate in space systems engineering. Her enthusiasm for co-op was full speed ahead going to be looking for new ways to challenge myself from the word go. “I heard about co-op the second and to impact the organization I am a part of,” she week of school and I came and saw Cat Rooney, said. —Lisa Torbic, Associate Editor 10 The Stevens Indicator

Stevens alumnus shares his father’s photos of when Sinatra came to campus Editor’s Note: Charles T. Smith was chief of campus police at Stevens from 1973 until his retirement in 1987. He died last fall, and his son, Stephen M. Smith ’78, shared some photos with the Alumni Association that the elder Smith had taken in July 1984, when Frank Sinatra visited Stevens, and in May 1985, when Sinatra returned to receive an honorary doctor of engineering degree from the university. The 1984 visit came about as Sinatra was campaigning with President Ronald Reagan as he sought reelection. Below, Stephen Smith offers some insight. I’m sharing three photos Dad took on July 26, 1984, when Frank Sinatra, the most famous native of Hoboken, returned home to help his old friend, Ronald Reagan, a Republican president, campaign in Hoboken, a well-known Democratic city in a Democratic state—not an easy feat. But Reagan won the presidential election that year, no doubt with the help of his friend, The Voice. Dad served as a military adviser in Vietnam from 1967 to 1969. As a member of USAID (United States Agency for International Development) in Vietnam, he had top security clearance. It may be why he was allowed such up-close access to the president, as these photos show. When the helicopters landed and the soldiers lined the field, armed with fully automatic M16 rifles, it was quite a sight. Dad was able to get Dr. Rogers onto the field to greet President Reagan. Reagan and Rogers struck up quite a long conversation. A few years later, Dr. Rogers worked under Reagan as a commissioner with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This captures their first meeting. In the second picture, President Reagan is saying good-bye and headed to the St. Ann’s Italian feast in Hoboken on July 26, 1984. At the time, Reagan was running for re-election, and Sinatra came along to help his old friend campaign in New Jersey. Sinatra is looking toward Hoboken in the third photo. I can almost read Sinatra’s mind. As someone who grew up in Hoboken like Sinatra, I guess he’s probably thinking, “How did a kid like me get to stand here, on the Stevens campus?” Like many Hoboken kids of his era, being at Stevens was a dream. Sinatra came back to Stevens (and Hoboken) to get an honorary doctor of engineering degree from the Institute in 1985, as the last photo shows. Although Sinatra rarely returned to Hoboken, perhaps a few times in decades, he did return in 1984 to help his old friend President Reagan, and one year later to receive his honorary degree from Stevens (His daughter, Nancy, said in a published work that her father once wanted to become an engineer). Earlier that same day, in Washington, D.C., Sinatra received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Reagan. Quite a long day for Sinatra. —Stephen M. Smith ’78

Reagan, at left, and Rogers about to shake hands. Also pictured are New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean and Frank Sinatra.

Stevens President Dr. Ken Rogers, left, and President Reagan shaking hands, July 26, 1984.

From left, Reagan chatting with Rogers as Kean listens in. Sinatra, right, takes in the view.

Sinatra, left, and then- Stevens Police Chief Charles T. Smith, when Sinatra received his honorary degree on May 23, 1985. Proud of Dad here with Ol’ Blue Eyes!

Winter 2011-2012 11

The President’s Initiative for

Excellence

The President’s Initiative for Excellence is a three-year, $30 million fundraising effort aimed at improving the Stevens experience by expanding scholarship programs, upgrading infrastructure, enhancing technical capabilities and boosting the University’s ability to attract outstanding new faculty. The Initiative also marks the launch of the Stevens Decade. These next 10 years will be a period of bold ambitions and impressive accomplishments leading up to the University’s landmark 150 th anniversary. Photo Credit: Jeffrey Vock

12 The Stevens Indicator

The President’s Initiative

for Excellence

SCHOLARSHIPS TO RETAIN TALENTED STUDENTS

SUPPORT FOR FACULTY

Attracting top scholars is key to Stevens’ mission of producing a highly skilled, technology-savvy work force capable of devising innovative solutions to address complex societal problems. It is thus critical that we continue to increase our available scholarship resources, both in order to competitively recruit top applicants and to address students’ needs for financial support.

Designated faculty chairs allow Stevens to recruit and retain outstanding faculty – the core of an institution of higher learning – and equip them with the resources they need to provide an exceptional learning experience for students, while also advancing the frontiers of science and technology through innovative research.

STATE-OF-THE-ART INFRASTRUCTURE

THE PRESIDENT’S DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES

The Initiative will provide needed funds to upgrade the university’s physical infrastructure, modernize facilities and expand technical skills in order to maintain a cutting-edge learning environment on campus, while preparing Stevens graduates to step into careers that will require mastery of state-of-the-art technologies.

The series will help keep Stevens at the forefront of critical discussions on both national and global topics around academics and policy. Invited speakers will possess great depth of experience in their fields, and will include thought leaders from the corporate sector as well as distinguished scientists and engineers. This series will not only generate excitement within the community, but also create excitement about Stevens beyond our walls.

To view full version, please visit

www.stevens.edu/dev Winter 2011-2012 13

Celebrating 40 Years of Female Undergrads at The Stute 14 The Stevens Indicator

hen Martha Connolly ’75 was mulling her many college acceptances in the spring of 1971, the prospect of achieving landmark status at Stevens Institute of Technology, which was admitting women as undergraduates for the first time 101 years after its founding, was certainly enticing. “The opportunity to break ground—to be the first—was a draw,” she recalls. But what closed the deal for Connolly was something else entirely—the personal attention of Dean of Admissions Robert Seavy, M.S. ’48, who took her on a private tour of the campus and astounded her by knowing the names and majors of every student he encountered. “This was clearly a place that really focused on undergraduate education,” Connolly said. When she arrived at Stevens that fall, Connolly was one of 19 women to join the Class of 1975, and quickly learned that the campus had been forewarned. The Stevens Indicator had signaled the special status of these pioneering freshmen by publishing their photographs in that fall’s edition of the magazine. In classes, she was often the only woman. “I would be the first name the professor learned, and thus the first to be called to the blackboard. And I could never cut class. They’d know, of course,” she said with a smile. Continued on next page

The first group of undergraduate women entered Stevens in September 1971.

Martha Connolly was a member of the historic Class of 1975.

Winter 2011-2012 15

“They really rolled out the red carpet for us,” said Connolly, who earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in four years at the university. Lenore Schupak ’74, who enrolled in Stevens with that first class of undergraduate women but took so many classes that she earned her degree in only three years and became the university’s first female baccalaureate graduate, believes her classmates were special for reasons besides their gender. “I think Dean Seavy went through a very careful selection process,” Schupak said. “He wanted to make sure the first women not only had the academic credentials to succeed, but were independent-minded and able to think on their feet.” The university found ways to enLenore Schupak '74 was originally a member of the Class of 1975, but took extra classes gage its first female students in areas and graduated early. outside of academics. While there They weren’t the first women students to enter Stevens’ were no women’s sports teams in 1971, the coaches created opclassrooms—women had been attending the graduate school portunities to involve the new female freshmen. since 1942. But the extraordinary women of the Class of ’75 “I was interested in racquet sports and was asked to join the were the first undergraduate women to make Castle Point squash and tennis teams as manager,” said Schupak, who also their home. joined the Yacht Club and was a photographer for The Stute. “I That first year, the women shared rooms in a relatively luxeven got to practice with the boy’s tennis team. It was a very urious building set aside for married students and received inwell-rounded experience.” vites galore for parties across campus, including on the decomWomen engineers were almost unheard of in the early missioned World War II transport ship, the SS Stevens, which 1970s. The year Stevens admitted them, in 1971, a mere 361 was anchored in the Hudson River and served as a dormitory. Continued on Page 18

Arrival and Orientation, Class of ’75 Women undergraduates were not only new to the classrooms at Stevens in 1971, but they were also living on campus. At right, high school girls at an event on campus in January 1971.

16 The Stevens Indicator

Reflecting on a Castle Point Milestone as Stevens Goes Co-ed

By Lisa Torbic Associate Editor

hen Robert Seavy, the dean of admissions at Stevens in the 1970s, heard the official word that the university was going co-ed for undergraduates, one of his first reactions wasn’t about how historic this decision was or how he would find qualified female students. No, almost immediately, one thought popped into his head: sleeping quarters. “Where were they going to sleep?” he recalled asking himself at the time. “I knew it would be a problem, but, we worked it out. It really was such an exciting time on campus. We knew things would change forever.” Seavy, who earned a master’s degree from Stevens in 1948, also knew that he had to get busy. The Board of Trustees voted in December 1970 to accept female undergraduates for the upcoming fall semester and he had to find qualified candidates, which meant appealing to high school sen- This group of female students from the Class of 1977 seems to be creating an iors, most of whom would have made their unbreakable bond during a team-building exercise. college choice already. Seavy began actively recruiting in early 1971 at all-girl high schools in New Jersey and at high schools where he had estab- dergraduates on campus. With 861 responses, 651 voted yes, lished contacts. He remembers the first acceptance letter to a 179 said no and 31 had no opinion. A survey to alumni female undergraduate his office sent out. showed no strong feeling either way, and discussions with “The whole office was very excited. We got it all started,” alumni groups showed that they favored the change. he said. Eventually, 19 women entered Stevens as undergradMalena Aldecoa Higuera ’75 recalls how welcoming the uates in the fall of 1971, as the pioneering Class of ’75. And male students were. as for the dorm room dilemma he faced early on, the solution “I think at first they saw us as women, but after the first was relatively easy: a section of the Married Student Housing year or so, they saw us as classmates,” she said. (now called the Castle Point Apartments) was set aside for the Higuera remembers where she was when she heard about female students. the co-ed change at Stevens: She was in homeroom during her For Richard Eversen, the retired associate provost and senior year at Hoboken High School in 1971. Her family had dean of student affairs, finding suitable female students settled in Hoboken after emigrating from Cuba in 1968, leavproved a little challenging at first. “Stevens had very high stan- ing behind Fidel Castro’s socialist state. dards back then, as they do now. It was hard to find females “I was in homeroom and I heard they were opening up to who were at the top of their class who had advanced math women undergraduates. Coming from Cuba just a few years classes. Don’t forget that, at that time, a lot of young women before, English was not my strong suit. But something clicked in high school didn’t take much math.” for me with math. I knew that math was the language that “And engineering wasn’t thought of as a career path for would get me by,” she recalls. “I visited MIT, (a school in) women then. Most women at the time were in the teaching Boston and Princeton, but I wanted nothing but the best and and nursing fields. There weren’t many who considered a ca- I knew that Stevens was the best.” reer in physics, math or chemistry,” Eversen said. But, the feIt turns out that Higuera also had one special cheerleader male students during those first years were very smart, he said. in her corner. And, as Seavy echoed, all Stevens undergraduates must “have Her principal at Hoboken High School was Thomas the goods” to succeed at Castle Point. Gaynor, himself a graduate of Stevens in 1932. “He encourThe Stevens Indicator Winter 1971 edition released the re- aged me for sure, but he also wanted me to know that it wassults of a poll on campus taken before the co-ed change that n’t an easy school, that it was tough. He wanted to make sure showed a high majority of students favored having female unContinued on Page 19 Winter 2011-2012 17

Continued from Page 16 women across the country had earned undergraduate degrees in engineering, and women accounted for less than one percent of the Ph.D. students to receive doctorates in engineering, according to data from the National Science Foundation. Despite the odds, both Connolly and Schupak excelled at Stevens. Both women went on to pioneering careers in their respective fields— biomedical engineering and biosciences for Connolly and environmental engineering for Schupak. Connolly went on to become the first female graduate of Johns Hopkins University’s biomedical engineering doctoral program, and she currently heads the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech) Maryland Industrial Partners Program at the University of Maryland, where she has spent her career fostering the state’s bioscience industry. Schupak, who earned a master’s degree from Syracuse University and an M.B.A. from Columbia University, also continued to be a trailblazer. She worked at an early alternative energy start-up and eventually for General Motors, helping the company implement early environmental compliance rules. Spring forward 40 years and Stevens is a vastly different place, its landscape altered in part by the many talented and ambitious women who followed in the footsteps of these pioneers.

18 The Stevens Indicator

Women now make up 25 percent of undergraduates and occupy many leadership roles on campus. This year, for example, the chair of the Honor Board, the head of Gear and Triangle, the activities honor society, and the editor of the yearbook are all women. And there are now a total of 13 women’s athletic teams on campus, all quite renowned. The strength of the programs allows Stevens to recruit scholarathletes from all over the country, including Laura Barito ‘11, a mechanical engineering major who last year was chosen as NCAA Woman of the Year. Continued on Page 20

and earned her M.M.S. from Stevens in 1978. She gave birth to her children, Malena and Kevin, and stayed home with them for a few years. She re-entered the workforce in 1983 as a cosmetics engineer at Revlon and Higuera now works as director of process engineering with Coty Inc. Joseph Moeller, Jr. ’67, M.Eng. ’69, Ph.D. ’75, who was a circuits professor during the ’70s, recalled the integration of women and the acceptance of students from outside the tri-state area as widely accepted. “The admission of women undergraduates was generally considered a positive and progressive step forward for the Institute,” Moeller recalled. Michi Wada ’75 remembers those early days on campus. During her senior year at Bergenfield High School in Bergenfield, N.J., she visited several colleges, but when she heard about the co-ed opportunity at Stevens, she made Castle Point her home. And during her time at Stevens, she was a member of the first female fencing team, which was established in the 1974-75 academic year. Fencing was new at the time to Wada, but “fencing sounded like something I wanted to try and it helped that they had an established men’s team,” she recalled. Today, Wada lives in New Mexico and works as a programmer with Sandia National Laboratories. Malena Aldecoa Higuera ’75, M.M.S. ’78, at left, poses for a picture “I’m still with the same company that I started out on campus in this photo from the 1970s. with after I graduated from Stevens,” she said. Continued from Page 17 I was sure of it,” she recalled. And the experience created a special bond between the principal and student as Gaynor’s support helped Higuera become the first female graduate of HHS to receive her B.S. from Stevens. During her undergraduate days, Higuera lived with her family at Washington and 11th streets, just a few blocks from campus. Money was tight for her family in those days. “I didn’t live on campus, but I got to experience a lot of things,” she said. “I got to see the World Trade Center being built, I became involved with the Latin American Club and one time, during a snowstorm, some of my guy friends actually carried me down the hill to my house so I wouldn’t slip.” In 1971, Higuera recalls that first group of women being called into a room for a meeting with administrators. They asked the students if they wanted to be segregated during classes or randomly mixed among the men. “We were offered a choice. We wanted to be treated as equals, so we chose to be in the same classes. Sometimes I would be the only woman in class, sometimes it was two of us. We did not get a break and we wanted it that way,” she said. The “sisterhood,” as Higuera calls that first group of women, created a unique friendship that she relishes to this day. “I got to know the other women very well. Because I didn’t speak English as well as the others, they were very protective of me and really were supportive.” Michi Wada ’75 wears her Class of 1975 jersey while in a After graduation, she worked for Allied Chemical Corp. dorm room. Winter 2011-2012 19

STEVENS SELECTED AGAIN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY!

Solar Decathlon Team Will Build

THE LEARNING HOUSE in 2013

Stevens is proud to announce we have been selected as a returning participant in the national Solar Decathlon by the U.S. Department of Energy. Our students will design and build an energy-efficient, solar-powered home for the 2013 edition of the prestigious competition, which occurs once every two years.

To become involved, please contact:

THE OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT 201-216-5214 development@stevens.edu www.stevens.edu/dev

Dozens of Stevens students — drawn from both the undergraduate and graduate ranks — will team up to build THE LEARNING HOUSE, a ‘smart home’ based partly on experiences gained during the 2011 event, when Stevens formed Team EMPOWERHOUSE with two fellow institutions. That team secured a first-place finish in two of ten categories (affordability and hot water production). Now Stevens will become a solo entry, showcasing the University’s strengths across an array of fields and disciplines for the 2013 competition. The LEARNING HOUSE team welcomes the support and encouragement of our Stevens alumni as we prepare to put Stevens innovation on display once again.

To view video of Stevens’ 2011 entry in the Solar Decathlon, please visit:

www.stevens.edu/news/content /solar-decathlon 20 The Stevens Indicator

Continued from Page 18 “I felt like I fit in right away,” Barito said. “The attitude toward men’s and women’s athletic teams was very equal. All told, this was one of the most balanced experiences you could find in engineering.” Kendra Appleheimer ’12, who served as vice president of the Student Government Association last year under a fellow female president and has held impressive internships at ITT, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Air Cruisers, agreed that women are highly influential on campus today. “I do feel that our impact is significant,” she said. “Those trailblazing women who were the first engineering students here started this tradition.” Women are so well integrated on campus today that most of

the time Appleheimer barely notices that they are still a minority. During her internship at Air Cruisers, she was the only woman on a large project team, but didn’t realize it until someone pointed it out two weeks after she started. “We’re all working toward the same goal and the sense of community is so strong here that I don’t even think about gender,” she said. If they are anything like their predecessors from 40 years ago, Appleheimer, Barito and others like them can expect great success by any standards. —Stevens Office of News and Media Relations To read more stories that mark the 40th anniversary of undergraduate women at Stevens and to view a historical slideshow, visit www.stevens.edu/women.

The women of the Class of 1975 paved the way for future female students. These pictures of female students throughout the years show that success for women is possible on the field, in the lab and in the classroom.

Winter 2011-2012 21

It Takes a Village

EVP of Verizon Communications credits mentors, supportive family for her success

By Beth Kissinger Editor

he was a 23-year-old chemical engineer when she phone, internet and television services through wiring directly joined New York Telephone in 1984. One of her first to people’s homes. jobs: be the first female boss for some veteran union She is also the first woman in Stevens’ history to be named workers testing phone circuits in Lower Manhattan. vice chair of the Stevens Board of Trustees, where she has served Virginia Ruesterholz ’83 had never actually tested phone since 2007. circuits herself. But one of her technicians, Walter Jarvis, had, Perhaps most impressive of all is that she accomplished all of so she worked alongside this veteran—who was old enough to this while still raising two children with her husband, Kevin ’83. be her dad and who took the time to teach her. When she speaks by phone one recent afternoon from Ruesterholz fondly recalls Jarvis her office in Basking Ridge, N.J., more than 25 years later, as she reflects Ruesterholz is warm, gracious and inon an extraordinary career she’s built to stantly makes you feel comfortable. become one of the highest ranking She shares memories and seems genwomen ever in the telecommunications uinely grateful to so many people giant that later followed New York Telefor the success she has enjoyed. She phone, Verizon Communications. seems super organized—she prefers “You never know who your most that questions about her life start from important mentors may be,” she says. her beginning—and makes a half-hour Often, it can be someone who works conversation engaging and fulfilling as for you. she completes the call just in time to Like her mentors, Ruesterholz genrush off to a meeting. erously shares the lessons she’s learned When asked about her proudest acthrough her rise over 28 years within complishments, she says that the FiOS one of the world’s most prestigious comproject was certainly a highlight. So was panies. She describes her career as a stothe great team effort that she led earlier ry of “so many opportunities, so many in her career to automate the dispatching people to learn from.” Virginia Ruesterholz ’83 is one of the highest of technicians, whose repair and installa“When I look at my career, people ranking women ever at telecommunications tion visits had been tracked by mounsay: What was your career plan? It really giant Verizon Communications, where she is tains of paperwork, not a computer. was one word: Yes,” she says. She’s al- executive vice president. The successes she recalls have to do ways said yes to new challenges, even to with people who came together to do jobs that required impossible commutes or just seemed out of amazing things, including her own family. her league. Shortly after her daughter, Katie, was born, in 1995, Among the undergraduate women who have passed Ruesterholz was transferred from Manhattan, N.Y., to Garden through the Stevens campus over the past 40 years, Ruesterholz City, N.Y., to head NYNEX’s Long Island business unit. She shines as a spectacular success story. She is currently executive had two young children and was living in Holmdel, N.J.; the vice president of Verizon Communications, responsible for new job would require a 170-mile round-trip commute. But she overseeing the company’s key strategic initiatives. She is the knew it was a great opportunity and thanks to her husband and person who led Verizon’s recent charge to roll out FiOS, the her parents, she was able to take the assignment. well-regarded, high-speed fiber optic network that offers Her team in Long Island saw how hard she worked, how she

22 The Stevens Indicator

started work early and left late despite the long commute, and neers. For her many professional accomplishments, Ruesterthey stepped up, too. They enjoyed great success and a great reholz, who earned a master’s degree in telecommunications manlationship, she recalls. agement from Polytechnic University, received the Stevens But Ruesterholz saves her greatest praise for her family. Her Honor Award in 1995. parents, the late George and Virginia Mahoney, cared for her Ruesterholz’s climb through the ranks of New York Telechildren when they were small. And Kevin, who now works as phone, NYNEX and Bell Atlantic, companies that through an attorney but had been a senior manager with Lucent Techmergers and acquisitions became Verizon, has been extraordinologies near their home, was indispensible. She says that she nary. After starting with New York Telephone as a manager, wouldn’t be where she is today without them. Ruesterholz was named market area vice president and general “You’ve got to find a support system, and he’s there for me,” manager for service delivery and field operations. She later rose she says. “There always has to be someone who carries the ball to senior vice president of Wholesale Markets. when it’s falling.” She was later promoted to president of Verizon Telecom, When Ruesterholz received an honorary degree from where she was responsible for sales, customer service, operaStevens in 2008, her husband and children were there to cheer tions and IT for the consumer, general business and domestic her on. She honored them. wholesale markets. Before assuming “Throughout my career, I relied on her current position, she served as my parents, my husband and my chilof the former Verizon Serv“You’ve got to find a sup- president dren to keep me grounded and remind ices Operations, a global shared-servport system ... Through- ices business group that operated Verme what’s really important in life,” she said that day. out my career, I relied on izon’s wireline network as well as the The only child of George, a middle finance operations, real estate and my parents, my husband supply chain services that support all school principal, and Virginia, an elementary school teacher, Ruesterholz and my children to keep Verizon companies. grew up in Matawan, N.J. Her parents Professor Richard Magee me grounded and remind ’63 Stevens had a strong belief in education, and serves with Ruesterholz on the me what’s really important Stevens Board of Trustees and praises her mother was proud to have earned a college degree when few women of her her leadership skills, dedication and in life.” generation did. ability to connect with others. Virginia Ruesterholz ’83 “They told me that you need to get “She’s just great to work with,” he a great education, then you need to says. “She provides wise counsel and pick a career and give back,” she says. clearly is a worker. She puts a lot of Ruesterholz also salutes Sister Margaret Mary, her calculus time in; it’s quality time. teacher at St. John Vianney Regional High School in Holmdel, “She makes people around her feel very comfortable.” who encouraged her to use her strengths in math and science to With her prominent position with Verizon, and the debecome an engineer. mands of her work with Stevens, Ruesterholz has limited free She visited Stevens and fell in love with it: the “tremendous, time. Her favorite way to unwind? Be with her family as much good feeling,” the close-knit community. “I really felt a connecas she can. tion,” she says. Some days, she’ll just jump on the train to Washington, It was here that she met her husband. They started dating D.C., to catch a movie with Scott, 19, who attends Georgetown their senior year, getting better acquainted after she accidentalUniversity. She attends 16-year-old Katie’s field hockey games ly sprayed him full blast with a faucet during chemistry lab. whenever she can. They’ll be married 28 years this June. When Ruesterholz thinks back on the rewards of her long “I met my husband there, and it’s been such a major influcareer—and the sacrifices she’s made—she always comes back ence on my life,” she says, when she explains why she does so to the people. much for Stevens, from her time as a trustee to her family’s sup“You can have the greatest technology,” she says, but it’s the port as major donors. Ruesterholz was very active as a student, people you work with—to solve problems together, to help each as president of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers other—who make the work worthwhile. and a member of Tau Beta Pi and the Society of Women Engi“People make it,” she says.

Winter 2011-2012 23

Putting Stevens Skills to Test in the Workforce Team building, leadership know-how lead to success in 25-year profession

By Lisa Torbic Associate Editor

o one needed to tell Annmarie Rizzo ’86, M.S. ’92, ition at Stevens provided a hurdle for her and her parents to overabout the prestige of a Stevens education. Growing up come. Her dad, before he died two years ago, was a carpenter and in Hoboken, N.J., she was very familiar with the her mom, a secretary for the Hoboken Board of Education. Riz“dream on the hill.” zo was fortunate to receive some scholarship money from the “The education I received at Stevens really helped me along university and, combined with a job during high school as a the way,’’ she recalled during a recent interview. “The analytical waitress and some sacrifices on her parents’ part, she was able to skills and people skills I learned have helped me with my career. enter Stevens in the fall of 1982. Rizzo also got a job at the PlasAt Stevens, I learned about problem solving—how to assess a sittics Institute of America on the Stevens campus to help financialuation and how to get the right people involved to bring the ly while attending classes. “My mom was born and raised in problem to resolution.’’ Hoboken and still lives in the house she grew up in. My dad was As director of Network Operations for Verizon, Rizzo is born in Italy and came here in the 1950s,’’ she recalled. based in the Verizon Corporate Headquarters Building in LowAnd their reactions on her graduation day? A smile returns er Manhattan and has national responsibilto her face as the memory comes back. ity for the network creation and the build“They were very happy to see me grading of network infrastructure, which uate from Stevens because as Hoboken resVerizon’s voice, video and data ride on. She idents, they knew what it meant,’’ she said, directs the operations of at least 10 provireferring to that hard-to-reach dream on sioning centers, managing 100 supervisors the hill. and 200 union workers spread throughout She noted that many skills that are key areas in the United States. She credits taught at Stevens are transferrable to any job. her Stevens background with teaching her “Teamwork, team building—when you how to lead, but also knowing when to liswork on your senior design project, for exten, an equally important skill, she said. ample, you learn to take turns. Sometimes Her career began two months after her you’re the leader and sometimes you’re the graduation when she got a job with New follower. And you have to contribute in all York Telephone as an engineer. Throughout aspects of the project,” she said. several mergers and breakups of New York Annmarie Rizzo ’86 has risen through In the last decade or so, Rizzo has inTelephone and other companies, which ul- the ranks at Verizon to become director cluded Stevens more prominently in her timately became known as Verizon, she’s of network operations, a position she has busy schedule, which includes a love of held for 10 years. risen through the ranks to her current posicooking, entertaining and traveling. She’s tion, a job she has held for about 10 years. She noted that she’s attended many Alumni Weekend events during the past severspent her 25-year plus career in the same industry. al years and has been a longtime member of the Edwin A. As a teen, Rizzo attended the Academy of Sacred Heart Stevens Society, the philanthropic arm of the university. She School in Hoboken, an all-girls Catholic school, graduating currently serves as the EAS Society chairwoman, a position among a class of 48. “For some, Stevens is such a small school. she has held since November 2010. She established the Rizzo Coming from a school with only 48 (in a graduating class), Family Excellence in Engineering Scholarship as a way to have Stevens seemed huge to me,’’ she said, with a slight smile on her a big impact at her alma mater and give back to the universiface as she recalled the memory. ty that gave her so much. One thing she’d like to do is increase Always gifted in science and math, Rizzo applied to NJIT membership in the Society. She quickly points out why she beand Columbia University, but had her heart set on Stevens, the lieves in this cause. “dream on the hill’’ for most Hobokenites. She even earned her “Look at how far Stevens has come, look at what Stevens has M.S. in management at Stevens. produced in terms of leaders of industry and business. It’s amaz“When I tell people that I spent my entire academic career in ing,” she said. And when she hears of the research that current Hoboken, they can’t believe it, that I would have stayed in one students and recent graduates have done, she can’t help but be place. But when you have the best right in your backyard, why impressed. leave?’’ she asked. “It’s a pride thing,” she said, meaning that when they sucBut there would be some challenges along the way. The tuceed, Stevens also succeeds.

24 The Stevens Indicator

From Engineering to Healing

Change of plans allows alumna to embrace her true calling By Beth Kissinger Editor

he man had been hospitalized for more than four The work is rewarding because simple things like adjusting months, far from his family, depressed, unable to a patient’s bed to make them more comfortable or the more speak any English. complex managing of their pain medication all help a patient. The young translator at Yale-New Haven Hospital answered So does just listening or holding a patient’s hand. his questions in Russian. But it was his nurse, Julita WoroniecWhile her time at Stevens may seem long ago, she uses techka Cinguina ’90, who truly spoke with him. nical skills learned there and in her past engineering work every As his nurse, Cinguina took care of his many medical needs. day, she says. The physics and flow rate of IV pumps is just one But as someone who speaks fluent Russian, she was also the only example. Her electrical engineering degree also got her the job person he could talk to about his life and family. interview at Yale-New Haven Hospital. “I can see it in his eyes; he feels so much better,” she says. “I said: Thank you, Stevens, 20 years later,” she says. “It’s an incredible feeling when you help someone. You feel Cinguina’s interest in nursing was much inspired by her like you’re on top of the world.” daughter Michelle’s battle with severe asthma as a young child. Cinguina speaks quickly, exuberantly, At one point, Michelle was on seven medher native Polish carrying through her ications and gained 20 pounds from taking voice. She sounds like someone on the steroids. As a worried parent, no one was top of the world, someone who has found really answering her questions. Cinguina her calling. had to quickly learn everything that she Cinguina is a clinical nurse at Yale-New could about asthma and its treatments. Haven Hospital in New Haven, Conn., the Over time, Michelle outgrew the asthma. primary teaching hospital for the Yale But the experience reignited a long forgotSchool of Medicine and a top hospital in ten passion for Cinguina. the country. She loved anatomy and physiology At 44, she is new to nursing, having ever since she was a child growing up in only entered the field about three years ago. Poland, she says. She was 15 when she, her Her journey from electrical engineering to brother and their mother, who had just motherhood to nursing, she says, teaches gone through a divorce, left that country that you should follow your passion, that for a fresh start in Jersey City, N.J. Cinyou can re-enter the workforce after time Julita Woroniecka Cinguina ’90, a for- guina, who didn’t speak a word of English, away and make a career decision at any age mer electrical engineer, recently made attended Dickinson High School in Jersey a career change to nursing. She works that changes your life. City and taught herself English by reading at Yale-New Haven Hospital in Con“I’m so passionate about it—I love necticut. the dictionary. When many kids in her what I do,” she says. “I learn something honors math and science classes decided new every day. I love it!” on Stevens, she went along, hoping to become a scientist. One morning in late January, Cinguina speaks by phone “Stevens was wonderful,” she says. She fell in love with its from her home in Wilton, Conn.—a house surrounded by peaceful campus and felt inspired by some great professors. Cinwoods that reminds her of her childhood in Elk, Poland. It is guina was elected to Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu, the electriher day off—she works three, 12-hour days that end up being cal engineering honor society, was a member of the Society of 15-hour days with the commute and extra time she spends with Women Engineers and played intramural sports. While she reher patients. ceived many scholarships, she still had to work with the admisCinguina works on the general medical floor at Yale-New sions office at Stevens and at AT&T Bell Labs in Murray Hill, Haven Hospital and treats patients with a variety of illnesses N.J., to help cover tuition. She graduated summa cum laude. and health conditions, such as infections, diabetes complicaBut not long after starting her engineering career with Con tions, surgical patients, cardiac, renal, congestive heart failure, Edison, she discovered that engineering wasn’t her passion. Latrespiratory and other health conditions. The work is exhausting er, while working at Omega Engineering as an applications enand stressful, but she obviously loves it. gineer, she quit to stay home with baby Michelle while her hus“It’s peoples’ lives that I have in my hands,” she says. “I alband, Michael, worked as an engineer and later IT manager ways think of it that way.” with GE. After her second daughter, Catherine, was born, CinWinter 2011-2012 25

guina worked part-time as a computer consultant. Today, her girls are 16 and 13, and their mother, who earned her nursing degree in 2009 from Norwalk Community College, has found her career path. And she’s not done. She wants to learn more, so she’s working on her master’s degree at Sacred Heart University to become a family nurse practitioner, an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN).This degree will allow her to diagnose and pre-

scribe medication. One day, Cinguina would love to earn her Ph.D. in nursing and teach nursing students. But for now, she plans to spend the next decade earning her stripes as a hospital nurse. “I love helping people and making them healthy and happy,” she says. “When you’re sick, it may not be as easy to enjoy your life. “(As a nurse), there’s just so much you can do.”

Pursuing a Passion is More Than Her Day Job

t might seem strange to mingle two mediums like engiMajied enjoys being busy and even today, she still has her neering and music together, but Kameelah Samar Majied hand in many pots. About four years ago, she became a certified is quick to point out how her two passions in life have a lot English as a Second Language instructor and currently teaches in common. ESL to adults at a Perth Amboy, N.J., location. She’s also in“If you think about it, they are very similar. Both allow me volved with the National Society of Black Engineers as a mema different kind of freedom, a creativity. They both allow me the ber of the Regional Alumni Executive Board. freedom to be inventive. (For instance), when you’re working Oh, and she’s working on a CD, which will be released with lyrics and music, you’re building a song,” she says. this fall, titled “Celebrate the Season,” a collection of ChristMajied ’00, M.S. ’08, has managed to put her engineering mas songs, some holiday classic tunes and some of her origidegree from Stevens to good use. She began her career at Brisnal creation. tol-Myers Squibb designing production packaging equipment Dave Zimmerman ’90, executive director of the De Baun for Oncology & Cardiovascular categories with assignments in Center for Performing Arts at Stevens, says he’s not surprised to Puerto Rico and Indiana. She then ventured into the cosmethear how full Majied’s life is these days. “She is an example of ic/personal care industry as a package develsomeone making their degree from Stevens opment manager in the Luxury division at work for them,’’ he says. “And Kameelah’s L’Oreal USA. For the past four years, she has right: There is a correlation between music worked as a package engineering manager and engineering, and she really makes both with Limited Brands, the parent organizawork for her in her life.” But Zimmerman tion of several well-known companies such thinks Majied has yet to reach her peak eias Bath & Body Works and Victoria’s Secret. ther musically or professionally. Majied works on major brand categories “I wouldn’t be surprised in 10 years to with a key focus on component design, prohear that she’s being honored for her work in duction fulfillment, and innovation. the engineering field and also to hear that But her creative side is also reflected in she has a successfully-selling CD on the her “moonlighting” gig as a singer and lyricharts,” he says. “She does so well in both cist. This central New Jersey resident has fields. She really is a talented singer and has been singing and writing music since she was Kameelah S. Majied ’00 has man- such a positive, outgoing personality.” a youngster and currently heads her own aged to combine her two loves in life Born in New York City to parents from —engineering and music. By day, five-member band, the Kameelah Samar Jazz Trinidad and Tobago, Majied was a sophoshe’s a packaging engineer for LimitCollective. The Collective sings locally in ed Brands Inc., and at night, she’s more at Camden Catholic High School in New Jersey and New York at various venues, performing in her own band, the Cherry Hill, N.J., when she first heard about such as weddings and clubs. “I have a lot of Kameelah Samar Jazz Collective. Stevens. She was volunteering at CCHS durfun with music, but I can’t support myself ing a college fair, helping to set up the tables from it,” she says in between slight laughs. for the representatives, when she saw the Stevens table. She During a recent interview, Majied easily conveys her passion signed her name to a list for more information and from then on, for engineering and music. While pursuing her baccalaureate she started receiving literature continuously, right up until her degree at Stevens, she was heavily involved with activities outsenior year. “I did consider engineering as a career. I was always side of her studies. Among her many activities, she was a Resiinterested in it. I just love the creativity with engineering. I love dent Assistant, ran on the track team, played soccer, belonged being able to build and create things,” she says. She was the first to Alpha Phi Omega, wrote a column for The Stute, served on of her generation in her family to graduate from college. Student Government, was a member and leader of the engineerBesides providing a well-rounded experience, Stevens also ing societies (ASME, NSBE, SWE), was a member of the provided something else for Majied: confidence. “Not that I Stevens Technical Enrichment Program (STEP), performed in ever had a real confidence problem,” she laughs. “But Stevens the Glee Club and Jazz Ensemble and was a member of Gear allowed me to grow and lead in any career I chose. It was an adand Triangle. “I was able to pursue all the things I love and I was ditional boost to my confidence,” she says. able to do that because of Stevens,” she says. —Lisa Torbic, Associate Editor

26 The Stevens Indicator

L AB T ESTED , M OTHER A PPROVED

Alumni Profile

Chemical engineer and mom leads product testing for Good Housekeeping magazine By Lisa Torbic Associate Editor

f life hands you a bowl of lemons, ask Stevens alumna and she knew she was ready for a more managerial role. “I was Dr. Birnur Aral how to test the fruit, observe the data and a small fish in a big tank there,” she said. then make lemonade. While working for Takasago, a fragrance company, she got As Director of the Health, Beauty and Environmental the chance to lead a team, but soon after starting there, she was Science Laboratory at the Good Housekeeping Research Inlet go in 2007 due to the economy. But, in her ever-optimistic stitute in New York City, Aral is responsible for a team of sciattitude, she looks at the short break in her career as a positive. entists who evaluate products designed to meet the health, “I was laid off from Takasago in mid-June and I started with beauty and fitness needs for Good Housekeeping magazine GHRI in mid-September, so I had the summer off” to be with and GoodHousekeeping.com. Some of the products tested her daughters, then ages 10 and 5, she said. When the GHRI pohave ranged from self-tanning lotions, eye makeup removers, sition was offered to her, she was hesitant at first. “I wasn’t sure moisturizing creams, and long-lasting nail polishes. what the job specifically was or that I would be good at it,” she It’s a job that Aral, M.Eng. ’90, said. “Publishing and science—could I do Ph.D. ’96, loves. that? But it has been wonderful these past “I’m a scientist at heart,” she says four years and I really love it.” during a recent phone interview. At GHRI, Aral gets to combine the She believes that a positive attitude scientific testing of products and the rebrings you far in life and she gives off a porting skills needed for a magazine and calming presence when speaking. Her online site. She said her days are never comforting voice is often interspersed dull and she loves being an investigator with laughter. And since she has lived in on “real situation products’’ because, as New Jersey for almost 25 years, her she points out, we are all consumers, so words come out with rapid-fire speed, the products she tests are things that are but quickly put a listener at ease. widely used by everyone. Born in Turkey, Aral came to Stevens She is part of a team with two othin 1987 as a newlywed when both she er researchers and each product, on averand her husband had goals of graduatage, takes six months to investigate from ing from Stevens with master’s degrees. start to finish. “There is scientific thinkHer husband, Mehmet Nehrozoglu, ing in everything,’’ she says. instead received his M.B.A. from New Birnur Aral, M.Eng. ’90, Ph.D. ’96, leads a As the mother of two daughters, York University, but Aral stayed at team that tests products for the Good House- does she hope they follow her footsteps Stevens, earning a master’s degree in keeping Research Institute in New York City. into the sciences? “I think it backfired,” 1990 and a Ph.D. in chemical engineershe said, as she laughs heartily. “They are ing from Stevens six years later. both more into the arts, but who knows? They do well in sciShe’s worked at four companies since her Stevens days, but ence and my husband and I don’t pressure them, and as long as with her “make lemonade” attitude on things, Aral is quick to they do well in school, they’re OK,” the West New York, N.J., point out that every job has helped to contribute to the scienresident said. “I tell them you have to make a living and you tist she is today. “Every job has added to me. It’s just been a difhave to be happy while you’re doing it.” ferent kind of thinking at each place,” she said. During her time And this chemical engineer speaks from experience. She is at Unilever, the personal care company, she worked with soap satisfied with her work and life. “You have to go with the flow bars, body wash and cosmetics. When the company relocated to of things. It’s hard nowadays to think ahead because things in Connecticut, she commuted from her New Jersey home for a life change so quickly. But doctors and engineers are still short time. But she realized the long commute wasn’t for her around, so I guess people still need them.”

Winter 2011-2012 27

Alumni Profile

Reaching for the Stars

John G. Puente, M.S. ʼ60, telecommunications satellite pioneer and entrepreneur, recalls extraordinary career

By Beth Kissinger Editor

s John G. Puente, M.S. ’60, and his team prepared to launch the Orion I satellite from Cape Canaveral in 1994, Puente took a moment. Looking into the November sky, he saw it: the Orion Constellation, burning brightly. “I said: Wow! What a coincidence!” Puente recalls almost 20 years later. “That was amazing.” So was knowing that for the next 15 years, Orion I, a telecommunications satellite he helped to build, was orbiting 22,500 miles above the earth. The Orion 1 project—the first international private telecommunications satellite to file with the FCC to launch into space—is just one of many achievements for a man who has enjoyed a long career as an engineer, entrepreneur, executive and philanthropist. It wasn’t always an easy path. The New York City native joined the Air Force after high school because he needed money for college. Even with the GI Bill, “I had all kinds of jobs,” he says with a laugh, from Bell Labs technician to manual laborer in New York’s Garment District, to help pay for college. Puente knows what it’s like to work hard to get a good education. Now, he wants to help those who desire a Stevens education just like he experienced. So Puente and his wife, Beverly, have established the John G. and Beverly A. Puente Endowed Scholarship for Stevens students. Puente juggled jobs while attending the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, where he earned his bachelor of engineering degree in 1957. He later chose Stevens for graduate school because he was living and working in New Jersey, and it was convenient, he acknowledges. He was married and attending night classes—which he paid for himself—and had little time for anything else. But Puente

28 The Stevens Indicator

John G. Puente, M.S. ’60, enjoys the Stevens Presidential Inauguration Gala last fall with his wife, Beverly. The entrepreneur and telecommunications satellite pioneer received the 2011 Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. Entrepreneur Award at the gala, honoring his extraordinary career.

soon discovered that Stevens had some terrific professors and a “I was saying to myself: what do I know about satellites?” top-notch engineering program, from which he earned his masPuente says. ter’s in electrical engineering. Puente learned quickly, specializing in international satellite “I have fond memories of Stevens,” he says. “I learned a lot communications, and finally running three laboratories at there.” COMSAT, focusing on satellite communications, spacecraft Puente would use what he learned to become chairman and and antennas. Puente was an engineer in the control room when CEO of Orion Network Systems, the company that launched COMSAT launched the first commercial communications Orion 1. He was also a founder of several telecommunications satellite, the Early Bird, in 1965. companies, including Digital Communications Corporation “My whole career at COMSAT was very exciting for me,” (now Hughes Network Systems), which focused on satellite he says. telecommunications, and SouthernNet, a fiber optic company. After nine years there, he wanted to strike out on his own Puente also served as chairman of Telogy Networks, Inc., which and in 1972 was a founder of DCC; Puente became chairman, provided embedded communications software products for helping to build it into a multi-million company. wireless and IP networks and His years as CEO of Oriwas founded by Stevens Board on Network Systems were also John G. Puente, M.S. ’60, who re- a career highlight—with a few Member Thomas Scholl. Now retired and living in ceived the 2011 Charles V. Schae- hair-raising moments. Potomac, Md., Puente, 81, While Orion Network fer, Jr. Entrepreneur Award, knows was responsible for the serves as a director with Micros Systems, Inc., a provider for enwhat it’s like to work hard to get a telecommunications compoterprise applications for the hosnents on the Orion I satellite, good education. Now, he wants to the pitality and retail industries. For satellite itself—the size of a help those who desire a Stevens small truck—was built by his many achievements as an entrepreneur, Puente received education just like he experienced. British Aerospace. So when the the 2011 Charles V. Schaefer, first launch was scheduled for So Puente and his wife, Beverly, that November 1994 day, Jr. Entrepreneur Award from Stevens last fall. have established the John G. and partners from all over the In conversation, Puente is gathered at Cape Beverly A. Puente Endowed Schol- world down-to-earth and self-effacCanaveral. The rocket was on arship for Stevens students. ing, despite his accomplishthe launch pad; the countments. He generously shares down reached 0 – but nothing memories—with wonderful happened. detail—and seems quietly proud of his journey. “I ran down to the operations room: What’s going on!” he Raised in New York City and, later, Union City, N.J., recalls. The computer system had shut off the launch due to a Puente is the younger step-brother of the late legendary musicable on the launch vehicle not releasing. The satellite’s maiden cian Tito Puente, who tried in vain to get him interested in mujourney into space finally came a week later. sic. (“I had no talent,” John Puente says with a hearty laugh.) In recent years, Puente has spent more time on volunteer Instead, his passion was for math and technology. As a child, he and philanthropic causes. For 30 years, up until 2010, he built model airplanes and dreamed of being a fighter pilot. chaired the board of trustees of Capitol College, a college dediStrict vision requirements prevented that but, after graduacated to engineering, computer science, information technolotion from Union Hill High School in Union City, Puente did gy and business in Laurel, Md. join the Air Force, where he was trained as a radar technician, This father of three sons and grandfather of three has played and served in Japan during the Korean War. many roles, but engineering occupies a special place. A mentor suggested that he enter Polytechnic and he en“Engineers are trained to solve problems,” he says. “You rolled after the war, becoming the first in his immediate family want to go to the moon? You have to solve a lot of problems to to graduate from college. get there. Work with ITT Labs and IBM followed and then came the “Engineering is always exciting because it’s always a new job offer from COMSAT, a pioneer in satellite communications. challenge.”

Winter 2011-2012 29

Alumni Profile

Re-Invested in Stevens

Sean Hanlon ’80 is seen inside Stevens’ Babbio Center, home of the new Hanlon Financial Systems Lab, which will open this spring. Hanlon made a significant gift toward the lab, which will simulate a Wall Street trading room.

Significant donation from Sean Hanlon ʼ80 helps create financial systems lab

By Paul Karr Special to The Stevens Indicator

s a kid growing up on the Jersey Shore, John “Sean” J. Hanlon IV loved numbers. He memorized the batting averages from the newspaper of his favorite ballplayers every day and imagined himself as a successful businessman one day. When his grandfather, John J. Hanlon Jr.—an attorney contracted with Stevens for outside legal counsel— strongly encouraged him to apply to the university, it seemed that goal of working in finance might have to wait. But Hanlon took his grandfather’s advice and immersed himself in math and science “and the minimal humanities” classes, graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1980. His boyhood dream of operating a successful financial business? It did eventually come true—and now Hanlon has given back to Stevens in spectacular fashion as thanks, through a significant gift to help establish the new Hanlon Financial Systems Lab. Scheduled to open in spring 2012, the lab will simulate an actual Wall Street trading room. And it will train and inspire finance-minded Stevens

30 The Stevens Indicator

graduates to analyze and test solutions to financial questions for years to come. “My engineering education caused me to want to dig deeper into solving investment problems for investors,” explains Hanlon, chairman, CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Hanlon Investment Management, located in Egg Harbor Township, N.J., and a Stevens Board of Trustees member since December 2010. “I wanted to attempt to provide better investment outcomes. That set me on this path.” Today, Hanlon continues to live at the Jersey Shore with his wife, Cathy, and their two children; sits at the head of a financial services company advising the management of over $3 billion worth of personal and corporate assets; writes about investment strategies for Forbes; and gives generously to Stevens and other philanthropic causes. “We’ve done well,” Hanlon says about the proprietary investment models he developed and tested during the 1990s and continues to use today.

Engineering financial success Hanlon didn’t jump into finance immediately upon graduating Stevens, but instead developed an interest in it during a two-year stint as a project engineer for the chemical firm Rohm and Haas. “I knew I wanted to do something beyond being a project engineer, and fortunately, Merrill Lynch saw something in me,” he recalls. Hanlon trained with Merrill at the famous One Liberty Plaza building adjacent to the World Trade Center. Upon completion, he was assigned to a sales position in the financial giant’s local office in Atlantic City—a fortuitous assignment for the kid from the Shore. “I couldn’t believe my luck,” he chuckles. “I told them, ‘You’re going to let me begin a career in finance? On the Jersey Shore? Am I dreaming?’” After 15 years in sales, Hanlon changed course again, deciding to open his own firm. He obtained a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certificate in 1997 and opened Hanlon Investment Management two years later. Assisted by a then-new research tool called “the Internet,” he began spending hours researching, creating and back-testing investment ideas and systems before eventually settling on a blend of modern portfolio theory—a strategy that spreads out risk by diversifying investments—and his own methods, which leap onto positive trends and ride them a few months before leaping back off as they show signs of turning south. “I trust the math,” explains Hanlon. “I’m a numbers guy. We don’t worry about the future—what if the price of oil does this, or this guy gets elected, or talking heads start shouting about stock ideas on television. That’s just noise to us. As the prices move, we just want to be a part of those moves. We stay out of the business of being long-term forecasters; there are simply too many variables.” Though he originally consulted face-to-face with individual clients, Hanlon quickly identified an alternate business model to deploy his new portfolio management methods: as a service to the rapidly growing industry of independent financial planners and advisors, who needed sound investment models and strategies to present to their clients. Between 2001 and 2011, his company’s assets under management soared from $35 million to over $3 billion. The firm largely avoided the crash of 2008 by converting client holdings completely to cash in June of 2008 and waiting out the dramatic drops on Wall Street. When the trends began to tick up again in March of 2009, Hanlon was liquid and prepared to capitalize by making major investments.

“We essentially broke even in 2008, while the S&P 500 was down 35 percent and some emerging markets were down 50 percent or more,” he says. “We did it by trusting the research.” Giving the gift of financial training In recent years, Hanlon has turned some of his time to philanthropy and corporate guidance. Beyond his work as chairman of the advisory board to the Stevens Financial Systems Center, he also serves on the advisory board for Pershing Advisor Solutions, a Bank of New York Mellon subsidiary broker dealer. He previously served on the advisory board of SunAmerica Securities; as chairman of the Linwood Education Foundation; and as chairman of the Seabrook House Foundation. Hanlon also increasingly finds himself on the Stevens campus, where he enjoys reconnecting with the place he says shaped his thinking and prepared him for his eventual success. “All my Stevens professors made an impression on me, and did a wonderful teaching job,” recalls Hanlon. “It has been especially refreshing to reacquaint myself with Dick Magee’63, my former fluid mechanics professor, who serves alongside me on the Board of Trustees. Dick has incredible passion for Stevens.” In early 2012, Hanlon unveiled his largest donation yet: a significant gift to establish The Hanlon Financial Systems Lab, a classroom on the fourth floor of the Lawrence T. Babbio, Jr. Center for Technology Management and a keystone piece of Stevens’ new Financial Systems Center. The lab will include the entire accouterments one would expect from a Wall Street trading room—terminals, tightly packed trading desks, tickers. Stevens students will learn quantitative financial methods first-hand, performing the same risk management operations that hedge-fund managers, advisors and planners perform daily. Courses for Stevens graduate programs in financial engineering, as well as Internet and network security, will also utilize and benefit from the lab. “Financial services is the second-largest industry employing recent Stevens graduates,” pointed out Hanlon while visiting campus in January. “Think about that. Basic training in this field is not only important, but essential in this day and age. Stevens has always, and will continue to, understand the marketplace and the skill sets required for our undergraduates to become immediate, valuable contributors to industry. “This combination of computer science, systems, engineering and investment and finance courses makes our students second to none in terms of education. The Hanlon Lab and the Financial Systems Center will help provide these key skills.” And, he might have added, help inspire the next generation of Sean Hanlons to matriculate, learn at and graduate from Stevens.

Winter 2011-2012 31

Alumni Business Directory

32 The Stevens Indicator

To reserve space in the Alumni Business Directory, please call (201) 216-5161 for more information.

Since 1951

Store Hours: 7:00 am – 4:30 pm

Store Hours: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm

Winter 2011-2012 33

Alumni Profile

Desperately Seeking Students

One alumnus works to find the next generation of engineers and scientists

By Lisa Torbic Associate Editor Phil Kimball ’62 says his work with SeaPerch is allowing him the chance to meet the next generation of engineers and scientists. PHOTO: NED LUNDQUIST

etirement agrees with Phil Kimball ’62, M. Eng. ’66. Well, not the traditional idea of retirement, anyway. When he hung up his hat as executive director of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) in June 2010, he never really got into the habit of relaxing and taking it easy. He didn’t have time. Within a few months of calling it quits, he embarked on a new adventure, becoming program director for SeaPerch, a K-12 educational outreach program that trains teachers on how to cultivate an interest in science and engineering for middle and high school students through a hands-on learning project where students build their own underwater robots. And this ocean engineer wouldn’t change his decision one bit. “We teach the teachers to build the SeaPerch underwater robot,” he says. “We train up to 20 teachers at a time from a region or from a school district, and two of us are there: one to lecture and one to provide assistance when problems or questions arise,” Kimball says. The teachers return to the classroom and supervise students working in teams of two to four as they build the robot over the next semester. As for the hours he puts into this venture, “I like to call it half-time. Some days or weeks, it’s more like full-time, up to 12 hours a day, which is what I did when I was working, but most days it’s half-time, about four hours a day.” SeaPerch is an underwater robotics program where students build a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) as part of a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) curriculum either in class or as part of an after-hours club. Teams of students collaborate to build the SeaPerch from a kit and as they build, they learn basic scientific and engineering concepts while fostering teamwork. The teams can then enter local and regional com34 The Stevens Indicator

petitions in their state to test their skills against their peers. The idea for SeaPerch was born several years ago when the U.S. Navy became concerned about a large number of senior engineers and scientists who were planning to retire. Future engineers needed to be cultivated or a large gap would ensue. The Navy approached universities and professional engineering societies for help in promoting science and engineering in a coordinated way. At that time, Kimball was heading SNAME, one society that was approached. The Office of Naval Research (ONR) issued a grant, which provided funds for the kits and teacher training, to SNAME in 2005, and SeaPerch was born. The program was successful immediately and has grown every year since, he says. According to SeaPerch’s website, the United States has fallen from third to 17th in the world in the number of college graduates in engineering programs, with only 5 percent of science degrees awarded in engineering, as compared to 50 percent in China. So the need to tap the next generation of engineers and scientists is critical, Kimball says. SeaPerch held its first National Challenge, managed by Kimball, in May 2011. He worked with 40 middle and high school teams from school districts and after-school clubs across the country. At this event, top robotics teams participated in team poster presentations, a vehicle underwater obstacle course and a simulated seafloor oil spill that required teams to cut the flow, cap the well and conduct recovery operations. The 2012 National Challenge will be held at Manassas Park Community Center in Northern Virginia from April 11-13, with expected participation to double from the 2011 numbers. Since its inception, more than 2,000 teachers have been trained and more than 28,000 students in 38 states have been a part of the program. The SeaPerch kits come to the schools unassembled, which

is a great way for kids to learn, Kimball says. “They get the opportunity to build something hands-on and they get hooked on the engineering and scientific principles by wiring and soldering their own circuits, building the frame and waterproofing their motors,” he says. “It fosters a new found interest in engineering and science early on and creates a future for the industry.” Susan Giver Nelson, executive director of the SeaPerch program, says the feedback from teachers is overwhelming. “I think the teamwork aspect is important as well – kids work together to complete the build and the mission, and it seems to bring out the best in them,” she says. Kimball’s long career reflects his love of the water as most of it has involved something to do with ship design and marine transportation. Before heading SNAME, he was president and CEO of Technitas North America, where he provided naval architectural and marine engineering consulting services; he served as vice president for marine business development at Bureau Veritas North America; and he was vice president of commercial programs at M. Rosenblatt & Sons where he handled strategic planning and development of commercial ship design and construction. He’s also been an active volunteer at Stevens, working as an alumni admissions recruiter, and serving on the Stevens Board of Trustees, the Stevens Alumni Association’s Executive Committee, and held the title of SAA president from 1981-82. Currently, he serves as the 1962 class secretary. He grew up in Massachusetts (his dad was a mechanical engineer) before his family moved to New Hampshire. Kimball fell in love with that part of the country immediately and returned to the state often. He’s owned his home in New England for years and moved from New Jersey to Walpole, N.H., a small town on the western side of the state, permanently in the summer of 2010. Even in semi-retirement, the water is close to his heart as his piece of paradise is near Lake Sunapee, where he and his family sail their Catalina 22.

His duties at SeaPerch include traveling nationwide to help with teacher training, to coordinate groups starting SeaPerch programs, to judge competition events and to demonstrate the SeaPerch robot at educational conferences and trade shows. He says he sees a lot of diversity at SeaPerch events, with the interest split evenly between boys and girls. And at recent events in Baltimore and Detroit, minority groups were well-represented, he says. Other groups are recognizing the need for engineers and scientists. Stevens has long supported the Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education (CIESE), which promotes excellence in teaching and learning STEM in grades K-12 and at the university level. Kimball doesn’t see SeaPerch as competition with CIESE and other groups, but rather, as a complimentary arm. Reflecting back, he says his Stevens education more than 50 years ago well prepared him for the future. “At Stevens, I gained valuable leadership skills, which I have used throughout my career. I also learned management skills, which are easy to assimilate into various environments. (Starting out as a student and now becoming the teacher), I’ve come full circle back to education.’’ “I couldn’t be happier,” Kimball says. “I’m an overgrown kid myself. You know when you’ve gotten to a kid? When they first realize they’re controlling the robot themselves, their eyes light up. That tells you that they got it. ‘Wow!’ is usually the first word you hear from the kids and the adults. (By working with this program), I know that I’ve met future engineers and scientists. I know that I am making a difference.” For more information on SeaPerch, or to get involved, visit their website at www.seaperch.org. If you know of an interesting Stevens alumnus/alumna who is doing something unique with their career or making a difference, please contact Lisa Torbic at Lisa.Torbic@stevens.edu or call 201216-5531.

Above: Phil Kimball describes competition days as “two days of work, but I love it.’’ Right: Phil Kimball discusses a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) at the Prince William County, Va., Schools’ Regional SeaPerch competition, held this past December.

Winter 2011-2012 35

A WINNING SEASON Strong finish for fall sports at Stevens By Rob Kulish Stevens’ Director of Sports Information and Events

oming off the most successful year in Stevens athletics history in 2010, expectations were high heading into the fall 2011 sports season. And while the Ducks didn’t send four teams to the NCAA Division III Championships like they did the year before, they did shine this fall, with men’s and women’s soccer leading the charge. Both soccer teams captured Empire 8 conference titles and reached the NCAA Tournament. For the men, longtime coach Tim O’Donohue left Stevens for Division I powerhouse University of Connecticut in July, and the Ducks stumbled out of the gate, dropping two of their first three matches. But from Sept. 9, under new head coach Devin Rensing, Stevens began an amazing streak of 16-straight wins and enjoyed an undefeated conference regular season. Hosting the Empire 8 Championship, the Ducks did not disappoint, downing conference rivals Ithaca College and Elmira College to capture the conference title. The Ducks opened NCAA play with a win over Lehman College before advancing to the Sweet 16 in penalty kicks against Brockport. The men downed Amherst College in Round 16 before ending the year by falling to Montclair State University 1-0 in the national quarterfinals. The men’s soccer team finished the year with an overall record of 18-3-1 and was ranked fifth in the D3Soccer.com

36 The Stevens Indicator

Women’s tennis team captain Nicole Portner ’12 earned her second straight all-conference selection in 2011.

Poll and sixth in the National Soccer Coaches Association (NSCAA) Poll. Junior Zach Adler was a first-team D3Soccer.com All-American after earning Empire 8 Player of the Year honors. Rensing won the Empire 8 Coach of the Year award and was promoted to permanent head coach of the Stevens soccer program after leading his team to one of its top seasons. Four Ducks earned NSCAA All-Region honors and two players earned Academic All-District nods from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The NCAA Tournament appearance was the ninth straight for Stevens men’s soccer, dating back to 2003, and its Empire 8 title was its fifth since joining the conference in 2007. Stevens is now 14-7-6 in NCAA matches—one of the best records nationwide. The women’s soccer team had another fantastic season, finishing with an overall record of 14-3-4, winning their second consecutive Empire 8 title and playing in their seventh NCAA Tournament. Like the men, the Stevens women started slow, dropping their first two matches. The tough beginning was no indication of what was to come, as the Ducks lost only one game during the rest of the season and rolled to the top seed in the Empire 8 Championship with a 6-0-1 conference record. In the Empire 8 tournament at the DeBaun Athletic Complex, the

Left: Freshman forward Ann Heine earned her second honor of the year after the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) released its Division III Upstate Women’s Soccer All-Stars last December. Earlier in the season, Heine was named Empire 8 Conference Rookie of the Year. Right: Zach Adler ’13, the 2011 Empire 8 Player of the Year, received additional honors last December when he was named a First-Team All-American by D3Soccer.com. The junior midfielder finished the season ranked 11th in the country with 11 assists and led the Empire 8 Conference with 29 points in 2011.

Ducks cruised over St. John Fisher College 3-1 before downing Nazareth College 2-0 for the conference title. The Ducks lost to Westfield State University in penalty kicks in the first round of the NCAAs after battling to a 1-1 draw. Freshman forward Ann Heine was named the Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, and women’s soccer head coach Jeff Parker, in his 12th year, was named the conference’s Coach of the Year. The team garnered other honors as six students made the allconference team and two earned NSCAA All-East Scholar Team nods. Heine also took home Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Upstate Rookie of the Year honors, while the team won the NSCAA Team Academic Award. Women’s tennis also had an excellent 11-1 season, falling only in the Empire 8 Championship match against Ithaca College. Six students received All-Empire 8 accolades and the team cracked the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Northeast Rankings for the first time ever, ranking 20. Freshman Jessica

Bourque was ranked 17th among all singles players in the country and earned conference Player and Rookie of the Year honors. The women’s tennis team will start the spring portion of its schedule during spring break in Orlando, Fla., in March. The Stevens field hockey team reached the postseason for the fourth-straight season, earning a berth in the Empire 8 Championship semifinals and advancing to the semifinals of the ECACs. Senior captain Mallory Swanson became the fifth National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-American in the program’s history and was also the Empire 8 Player of the Year. Four players earned all-conference honors and senior midfielder Jillian Price finished sixth nationally in assists. In women’s volleyball action, junior Maggie Kowalska was named American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American for the third year in a row. And the men’s cross country team placed second at the Empire 8 Championships—the best finish in the program’s history.

Winter 2011-2012 37

Helping Hands

Wounded alumnus recalls the kindness of strangers during World War II Editor’s Note: Capt. Edward F. Egan ’40, Hon. D. Eng. ’89, served as an engineering officer in the Army Air Force, based in the Pacific, from June 1942 to December 1945. In honor of the recent 70th anniversary of the United States’ entry into World War II, Egan has shared an April 1945 letter that he wrote to his future wife, Doris, an Army nurse stationed in England. Here, he recounts an unexpected crash landing— and memorable stay—in the Philippines the month before. Army censors prohibited him from sharing that he had been picking up supplies off the northwest coast of New Guinea, hitched a ride on a B-25 headed for his base in San Marcelino, Luzon, in the Philippines, ran off course and crash landed on Catanduanes, a small island off Luzon’s east coast.

Letter to Lt. Doris Cunningham, 104th General Hospital, Ringwood, England From Capt. Edward F. Egan, 499th Bomb Squadron, 345th Bomb Group, San Marcelino, Luzon, Philippine Islands April 7, 1945 Dear Nurse, Light up a cigarette, settle yourself comfortably on your sack and get some soft music on the radio, for I have a story to tell. A while ago, I flew to a former base to get some equipment. It was a good trip, and I mixed business with pleasure by swimming and visiting a couple of doctor friends. I was a bit loathe to leave but, finally, a plane came for me and I left. There were eight of us aboard the B-25. The pilot was Lt. Cavins, co-pilot Lt. Langdon, engineer Sgt. Singerman, radio operator Sgt. Mazerolle and navigator Lt. Tarwater. Besides myself, there were two other passengers, Lt. Boeing and Sgt. Peters. The weather was pretty good at first, but as time wore on, it began to get worse until it became downright bad. We kept on, though, because we thought it would break, but it didn’t. The radio operator tried to raise our destination and get a bearing but was not able to make contact. We were lost and running low on gas. Finally, the weather cleared up and we sighted an island. We didn’t know where it was, except that it was in the Philippines. There are 7,000 islands in the Philippines. I asked Cavins

38 The Stevens Indicator

In this May 1945 picture, Egan stands beneath the tail of a B55 plane on the island of Luzon in the Philippines.

what he was going to do and he said our tanks were just about dry and he was going to set her down. We picked a little bay near a village, but not too near in case there were Japanese there. Cavins was going to make a pass at the beach so we could drop some of our supplies and save them, but both engines quit almost simultaneously so there was nothing to do but drop her in. We hit the water first, but we were too close to the shore and smashed up on the beach. There was a lot of noise and bouncing around and then all of a sudden, we were still. I found that the fuselage had buckled, and my legs were pinned in, but otherwise, I seemed to be OK. Boeing hollered from the rear that Peters seemed to be hurt pretty badly but he and Mazerolle were all right. Cavins and Langdon were in good shape, Singerman had a deep cut on a finger and Tarwater had a foot caught. Almost immediately, it seemed the airplane was surrounded by chattering Filipinos. Somebody asked if Japanese were there. They said, “No Japs, no Japs here,’’ which was good news. So Singerman got the crash ax and started chopping us out. His injured finger prevented him from swinging it, so a Filipino lad did the work on Singerman’s instructions. Meanwhile, other natives were peering in the windows, mopping my brow with leaves and fanning me with fronds. I asked for water, and I was handed a half coconut husk of good, cool water. It sure tasted good.

It took quite a while to get me out, about two and a half first aid and it was the WAS who took care of us in the schoolhours. After a while, my leg began to hurt so I took a shot of house. I learned they go out with their men when fighting. One morphine from the plane’s emergency first aid kit, which pert little thing had a long scar over her left eye, caused by a helped. I later found cuts on my hands caused by pulling jagged piece of shrapnel from a Japanese trench mortar a mere 100 pieces of metal. I was hauled out and carried to a nearby hut. yards from the battle. Someone brought out a wicker armchair for me, and I took my They couldn’t do enough for Peters. He had a bad gash on pants off to take inventory. Except for some bad bruises, everyhis head and two more on his right leg, his chest pained him thing looked OK. when he breathed and his hip and tail bone were sore. They Some Filipinos said they were going to take me to their guerilwashed his cuts and, with the emergency first aid kit we salvaged la headquarters, so I was hoisted up on their shoulders in the chair from the plane, they sprinkled sulfanilamide on them before and paraded down the road. The morphine must have given me bandaging. Those were the first real medicines and bandages a jag on, for I was feeling good, and I remember waving to peothey had seen in a long time. Previously, they had been using naple along the road and making some attempts at humor. tive herbs and oil and such. And though they treated many We came to a small barrio and I was taken to a one-room wounded, they had never lost a casualty which they had been schoolhouse. Peters was already there, having his cut bandaged able to evacuate from the battlefield. by some girls. I asked how he was and he said his chest was hurtThe girls sat with Peters all evening talking to him, fanning ing him a good bit. Singerman was there and he told me he him and finally they sang us to sleep with “God Bless America.” thought he was going to lose the tip of his finger, which was Or they tried to. I guess Peters didn’t sleep any, and I know I just now bandaged and bleeding. Someone brought me a glass of caught a few cat naps. Two of our “washes” sat up all night with water and I talked to some of the guerilla officers. One of them, us, and the guerillas posted an armed guard on the building. a captain, said he was sending word to his commanding officer, Next morning, Peters was still uncomfortable but in good a major at another town, about us. He informed me that there spirits. The girls changed his bandages and also discovered some were no Americans on the island and only a small Japanese garcuts on me which no one had noticed before. They daubed rison, which was keeping itself barricaded, so the guerillas had them with iodine. the upper hand. That, too, was good news. They had no radio, At noon, the major showed up. He was a young fellow, just the natives that is, so the captain said the major would probably 25, and was wearing a khaki uniform with regulation insignia. have us taken to the nearest American base by sailboat. I wantThe boat, he told us, was at a town about 10 miles away and toed to start immediately, for I was worried about Peters, but no. morrow he would take us there. Then, it would be off for the The captain said he must wait for the major, so wait we must. nearest Army base. The further delay did not appeal to me I was soaking wet from the salt water and hydraulic fluid much, but Peters was not getting any worse and all those peofrom the airplane. Someone brought me clean, dry clothes: ple were being so good to us, I was not able to insist. standard G.I. pants and shirt, the shirt having buck sergeant’s We had just finished lunch at the major’s house when he arstripes on it. I never did find out where the uniform came from. It was about 6 p.m. by this time, and we were brought supper. It was the first of a succession of fabulous meals, which was constant while we were there. I don’t think I’ve eaten as well since I came overseas. During our stay there, we consumed fried eggs, boiled eggs, rice, chicken rice soup, beef bouillon, pork, steak, chicken, sweet potatoes, scallions, unknown greens, banana and flour pancakes, deviled eggs, coffee from a native bean, bananas, sugar cane stalks and other exotic unusual dishes. For us, there was no rationing and we wanted for not. During the evening we were visited by two attractive young girls, lieutenants in the WAS (Woman’s Auxiliary Service). The way they pronounce the letters, it comes out “wash.” And they are quite amazing. Doris and Ed Egan ’40 spent their honeymoon in Canada. This photo was taken on Jan. 20, They had excellent training in 1946, the day after they married, while visiting a Montreal restaurant.

Winter 2011-2012 39

rived. Our host at the meal had been an uncle of the major who town functionaries. And then they put on a parade for us! First was the provost marshal. He was a character. To me, he looked came a brass band, then a couple of platoons of guerillas who and acted like Leo Carillo. We were drinking nipa gin, their logave us “Eyes right!” which we returned with a salute feeling, as cal booze, which is made from coconut sap and although it one of the boys later expressed it, like Mussolini! Finally all the doesn’t taste like Black and White, it has a potent kick. Old Leo males in town, it seemed, carried placards reading, “Welcome was tossing them off neat and he was in U.S. Airmen.” The parade went fine fettle. About eight that evening, a around the block and back. Soon, youngster came to the schoolhouse everyone gathered about as though with a violin and began to play. He was some speechmaking was about to begood too, and soon Singerman got up gin. And that is just what happened. with a woman and began to dance. The toastmaster spoke, the judge They were both good and everyone apspoke, the priest spoke, the mayor plauded. The Filipinos wanted to hear spoke, and every blessed one of us some American songs, so we sang with spoke. We were the “distinguished warmth if not with melody. American visitors,” the major was We left for the other village about “their beloved major.” But they were 9 the next morning. Peters and Mazeearnest and sincere and we were caught rolle were left behind, our plan being up by their spirit and quite outdid ourto have a seaplane go back for them as selves thanking them for their hospitalsoon as we could contact the Army. ity and rattling on about FilipinoOur procession was unique. Tarwater American friendship. Langdon, a and I were in two wicker chairs, each of country boy with a good tenor voice, which had two bamboo poles thrust sang. He was taken by surprise, but got through them and were borne on the up and made us all sing the “Air Corps shoulders of four Filipinos, Langdon Song,” which went over big. and Boeing rode two small horses, Egan, May 1944, on the island of New Guinea. A young woman came out and Singerman and Cavins walked. We sang “God Bless America” and a mixed had a platoon of guerillas with us. Tarchorus sang a Filipino song. It was water and I had the deal though. We sunset when all was finished and the sat there like a couple of potentates, bugler blew, “To The Colors.” Then waving to people, talking to our manthe band played “The Star Spangled power. All I needed was a big cigar. A Banner” while the flag was lowered. native came up to me and handed me Just before the conclusion, the toastan egg and said, “Please accept my master announced that there would be humble gift.” Little kids ran along with a dance in our honor at the schoolus and many people joined the parade house that evening. as we neared the town. We returned to Leo’s, ate, and Once there, we were taken to Leo’s talked while listening to a boy play the house, where we were served cookies guitar. At 9 p.m., we got to the dance. and more nipa gin. Leo was the grand The women all sat on one side of the host. We were asked if we would like a room, the men stood at the other. Tarshower. My reaction was instantaneous water and I couldn’t dance but the othas I had not shaved or bathed since the ers did and had a great time. There crack up. They took us to the rectory were some very pretty girls and some blocks away where the priest, lo Cavins, Langdon and Singerman and behold, had a tiled floor bathroom played the field. The band was good. and a flush toilet. They started off with “San Antonio Back at Leo’s, we ate and then a Rose” and played fox trots, tangos, boy with a guitar played and sang for rhumbas and waltzes. I was sorry I us. He started off with “Goodbye couldn’t dance but I had a fine time Dear, I’ll Be Back In A Year,” which watching. I was tired and begged off seemed a bit incongruous to me, Doris (Cunningham) Egan was an Army nurse about 10:30, but the rest did not stop swung into “In The Mood” and then during World War II. until 1:30 and all had a good time. gave out with a couple of tangos and We were up early in the morning rhumbas. He was good. and after breakfast were taken to the boat, anchored in the rivAbout three, we were taken to the municipal building. We er on the edge of town about a mile from the sea. It was a sailwere seated in chairs on the balcony, where we were joined by boat of about 30 feet. There were about 22 aboard plus six monthe major and some officers, the priest, the judge and other keys and several chickens. We were six, about 14 guerillas 40 The Stevens Indicator

including the major, and there were even two Japanese. No fooling. One was loyal, had lived in the islands for about 16 years and was even a sergeant in the guerillas. The other was a prisoner taken in their last fight who was being turned over to the Army. The Filipinos seemed to treat him fairly well although they kept him busy bailing out the boat. There was a crowd along the shore to see us off and they began throwing straw hats as we shoved off until we all had one. I was almost sorry to leave. If it had not been for Peters, I would not have minded a few more days of basking in their care and eating that marvelous food. Of course, our egos had been tremendously inflated by their treatment of us, but it was still great to be the object of so much attention and to be treated as six ordinary guys who got lost, not as the “distinguished American visitors.” It wasn’t until noon that a breeze sprang up. A fire was built in a small stove and a meal of rice and carrots and boiled eggs was prepared for us. That evening, they killed one of the chickens for a fine dinner. When the wind finally did come, we made good time. The major was quite proud of his boat, said it was the fastest in the island. After dark, we began singing and telling jokes. The Japanese prisoner apparently was enjoying it. Through the other Japanese man (who did not speak English but did speak the native dialect, of course. If we wanted to talk to the prisoner, it had to be relayed through a third tongue), he said he would like to sing a song in Japanese. And he did, some Army song, and then darned if he didn’t follow it with “La Marseillaise,” in Japanese. It was a bright moonlight and about 1 a.m., we sighted a ship ahead of us, which crossed our bow, sailed away and then passed in front of us again, moving very slowly. We recognized it as an American destroyer. We had a flashlight aboard and blinked S.O.S. a few times. For a while there was no reply, but finally it blinked back that our message was received and it bore down on us. When it was in hailing distance, we shouted that we were a B-25 crew and they told us to come alongside. We said some injured were among us, so the ship’s doctor was awakened. The captain also was up, looking rumpled and sleepy in his dressing gown. We briefly told him our story and he gave instructions to send a message of our rescue and of the two remaining on the is-

In January 2012, Ed Egan provided this postscript. He returned to the United States in October 1945, was discharged at Fort Dix, N.J., and returned to his job at J.O. Ross Engineering Corp. in Manhattan, N.Y. When he came home from the Pacific, he weighed 128 pounds and his skin was yellow from more than two years of taking the drug Atabrine to prevent malaria. Doris Cunningham returned from England in September 1945 and worked at an Army hospital in Valley Forge, Pa., until the couple wed on Jan. 19, 1946, and she was discharged. They have five children, 11 grandchildren and a great-grandchild on the way. In 1946, Egan, along his father and his brother, Lawrence ’43, founded Frank W. Egan & Co., later Egan Machinery Corporation, a manufacturer of paper converting and plastics extrusion machinery headquartered in Somerville, N.J. Ed eventually served as the company’s president before retiring in 1983. Ed and Doris live in Manasquan, N.J.

land. Then the doc took us down to sick bay and went over us. He said my leg would be OK and put a bandage on it. He sewed Singerman’s finger up and told him the tip would not be lost. In the wardroom, sandwiches, an apple pie, and Silex-made coffee was waiting for us. I made a pig of myself again and then crept into a soft bunk between white sheets. Ah, peace. Well that’s about it. The destroyer brought us back while we ate their good food and we poked our noses into every corner of the ship. We were told that every gun on the ship was trained on us the night we were picked up as they couldn’t figure out what we were. We were joyfully received back at the group. The colonel had us all in his office to hear our story, group public relations took our pictures and the Associated Press sent out the story. We entertained the major for a few days and finally took him to the base, where his boat was, and presented him with a couple of cases of cigarettes, some clothes, and 10 in 1 rations, although after what I ate on his island, I cannot quite see the point of the last. In return, he gave us all presents: the colonel, a Japanese samurai sword; Singerman, two monkeys; me, a Japanese battle flag and two bleeding heart doves (which I think I shall set free, although they are very pretty). We parted with protestations of everlasting friendship. And I meant it. I’ve never met such people. By the way, Peters will be OK. So this story has a happy ending. It might not have been, but we were lucky. We had all the pleasures and excitements of such an experience without any of the sorrow and hardships. Many others have not been so fortunate and I hope I will never forget it. We were fortunate in another respect, too: missing reports were not sent out. If they were, the folks would have received one of those War Department telegrams regretting to inform them their son is missing. That I was sweating out. Mother would have had a bad few days until the news of our rescue had reached her. But for now, enough. This has run its course. Ed P.S. Things have obviously been left out for censorship reasons. What there is I hope will not infringe, but if any of it is cut, please tell me about it. The Army’s decisions on just what is and what is not censorable have long been a puzzle to me.

Ed Egan ’40, left, has been attending the Old Guard Luncheon for many years. At the most recent luncheon in September 2011, he poses with Stevens President Dr. Nariman Farvardin.

Winter 2011-2012 41

Download Give to Stevens, Get Income for Life:the PDF at: www.stevens.edu/dev/rop

CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITIES

Stevens Institute of Technology is pleased to recognize the generous alumni, students, faculty, staff, friends and community members who support the University each year in the 2011 Record of Philanthropy. Please take great pride in knowing that your annual contributions and ongoing philanthropy enable Stevens to achieve the next level of influence, effectiveness and excellence. Thank you again for your generous support of Stevens Institute of Technology. Together we can take Stevens to even greater heights. Sincerely,

Edward C. Eichhorn ’69 Vice President for Development O F F I C E O F D E V E LO P M E N T 号 2 01- 216 - 5 2 41 号 D E V E LO P M E N T@ S T E V E N S .E D U 号 W W W. S T E V E N S .E D U / D E V

42 The Stevens Indicator

Clubs Old Guard

Catching up at the Old Guard Luncheon this past fall were, standing from left, John Andrus ’53 and Joe Schlig ’49. Seated were Marlene Sitter, at left, and Bobbie Schlig.

Classmates from 1951 Charlie Berendsen, at left, and Ed Havranek stop for a photo at last fall’s Old Guard Luncheon, held in the Bissinger Room at Stevens.

Several members of the Class of 1961 accepted their first invitation to the Old Guard Luncheon this past fall. Here, the group poses with Stevens president, Dr. Nariman Farvardin. Pictured are, from left, Fred Dietrich, Art Ketterer, Jay Wartell, Dr. Farvardin, Petros Beys, Gary Fitton, Leon Hojegian and Richard Walters. Several classmates met earlier in the day to discuss their 50th anniversary reunion, which was held in June. Winter 2011-2012 43

Stevens Metropolitan Club By Don Daume ’67, SMC secretary You are cordially invited to attend our luncheon meetings and are encouraged to become an official “dues-paying” member of the “mini” but “mighty” Metropolitan Club. Our meetings are normally on the fourth Thursday of every month (except in November and December) throughout the year. Starting at noon, our venues are good restaurants (with close-by parking) in and around Hoboken, with occasional forays outside Hudson County. Our membership varies each year between 35 and 55 alumni, most of whom are also Edwin A. Stevens Society

donors, and with a high percentage of Stevens Alumni Award recipients. The Metropolitan Club was incorporated in 1939 and, so far, has been the only club to donate as a club to the Stevens Scholarship (some $33,000 in the past 30 years). Our newly-elected president John Stevens ’72 has picked up the gavel from outgoing president Marty Valerio ’68 (first elected in 2007), and looks forward to greeting you. Please do call the Alumni Office at (201) 216-5163 for the date and location of our next meeting. Join the fellowship and fun in support of our Alumni Association and our alma mater. See you there.

At the Stevens Metropolitan Club’s holiday luncheon in December, Dr. Nariman Farvardin, standing on right, presented three active alumni with Presidential Pins as a thank you for their dedication to the Institute. Receiving the pins were John Hovey ’57, standing on left, and sitting, Bob Bosse ’50, left, and Joe Schneider ’46.

This past December, the Stevens Metropolitan Club’s annual holiday luncheon was well attended. Stevens Alumni Association Executive Director Anita Lang, at left, poses with SAA and SMC Past President Marty Valerio ’68 and Darlene Frazier, of the Stevens Alumni Office.

44 The Stevens Indicator

Bob Bosse ’50 and his wife, Rose, both sitting, have hosted the Stevens Metropolitan Club’s annual holiday luncheon at the Knickerbocker Country Club in Tenafly, N.J., for several years. This past December, they welcomed Dr. Nariman Farvardin and his wife, Hoveida.

West Coast Florida Club

The West Coast Florida Club held its monthly luncheon in November at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club in St. Petersburg, Fla. Holding the club’s Stevens banner, from left, are Bill Graf ’50, Don Landmann ’51, Clare Landmann and Donna Mazzilli. Back row, from left, are Betty Goldie, Paul Corrao, M.T.M. ’99, Joe Nye, Brenda Heins Nye (widow of Charles Heins ’53), Stewart Goldie ’51 and Otto Mazzilli ’57. Winter 2011-2012 45

Fishing Club By Dick Magee ’63 The first 2011 fall striper trip was held on Nov. 10, 2011. Since the fishing up north (Sandy Hook, N.J.) had slowed considerably, Capt. Burke moved his boat the Mad Gaffer to Belmar, N.J., to shorten the trip to the current best fishing location off Long Beach Island. The weather was heavy fog and the seas moderate in wave height.

The eight-member group limited out with 16 large stripers (two per fisherman) and added about 10 large bluefish. Gerry Ferrara ’76 won the pool, and Stevens Assistant Professor Mahmoud Wazne, Ph.D.’03, landed a double header (two stripers at once), which proved a challenge to reel in. If you would like to join a trip in 2012, email Dick Magee ’63 at rsmagee@rcn.com.

Displaying some impressive catches during the Fishing Club’s trip last November, from left, are Ed Ciparis ’66, Eric Seifert ’89 and Gerry Ferrara ’76.

Left: Stevens Assistant Professor Mahmoud Wazne, Ph. D. ’03, landed a “double header”—two stripers at the same time—on the trip last November off Long Beach Island, N.J.

Boston Club The Boston Club met at the Museum of Science in Boston in January to tour the exhibit dedicated to the doomed city of Pompeii titled, “A Day in Pompeii.” Braving a snowstorm to gather for the day, from left, are Doug Sulzer ’70, Vin D’Agostino ’82, Boston Club co-chair Phyllis Doig ’85, Lucy and Joe Krieger ’75, Debi Motler ’86, and Bill Kelly. Jim McCann ’78 is not pictured.

46 The Stevens Indicator

Morris-Passaic Club The Morris-Passaic Club made its annual visit to the Valley Shepherd Creamery in Long Valley, N.J., last June to meet some newborn baby lambs, sample homemade cheeses and learn more about the operations of this dairy and sheep farm owned by Debra Van Sickle Wajswol ’78 and Eran Wajswol ’77.

Walter Meissner ’78 greets a newborn baby lamb.

Eran Wajswol ’77, at left in light pants, speaks to Stevens alumni and guests about his dairy and sheep farm, which he runs with his wife, Debra Van Sickle Wajswol ’78.

Stevens Alumni Environmental Professionals Club The Stevens Alumni Environmental Professionals Club gathered last September at Stevens to learn more about the new Croton Water Filtration Plant being built in the Bronx, N.Y. Rodrigo Cruz ’00, a site project engineer for the $3 billion project, spoke about the filtration plant during the meeting, which attracted alumni, students and faculty members. Winter 2011-2012 47

Washington, D.C., Club The Washington, D.C., Alumni Club enjoyed a strong turnout at its annual holiday party this past December, when more than 100 people gathered to celebrate the holidays and welcome the new Stevens president, Dr. Nariman Farvardin. Here, Dr. Farvardin, center, greets Foster Miller ’76, left, and Jack Sanborn ’54 at the party, held at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md.

Helen DeGraw, left, the wife of SAA Clubs Director Ken DeGraw ’57, shares a moment with Monica and Brent Beeman ’03 at the Washington, D.C., holiday party.

Left: Michael Kish ’83 attended the D.C. Club holiday party with Rachel Canada.

Above: D.C. Club President Ray Durante ’50 greets Anita Lang, executive director of the Stevens Alumni Association, at the party.

Classmates Jean Zaborowski Brick ’82, left, and Betty Shinn Wells ’82 reunite at the D.C. Club holiday party. 48 The Stevens Indicator

Winter 2011-2012 49

Graduate Log Anthony Rubinaccio, M.S. ’92, serves as the consultant with UTi, Portland, Ore. He lives in executive director of the New Jersey Board of Phar- Beaverton, Ore., and can be reached by e-mail at macy. He lives in Boonton, N.J. Shalaka D. Tayade, amathur@go2uti.com. M.Eng. ’11, works as a civil engineer with AI EngiJoseph S. Furando, M.S. ’95, is vice president neers in New York, N.Y., and lives in Keasbey, N.J. of sales and marketing at CIMA Green, LLC, in She can be reached at shalaka111@gmail.com. Jef- Park Ridge, N.J. He and his wife, Christine, live in frey R. Janek, M.S. ’11, is the manufacturing lead Saddle River, N.J., and have one son. Eric Peter on the SAP implementation Lozauskas, M.S. ’10, is diproject at Novartis in Fort rector of information techWorth, Texas. He lives in nology with the Bergen Burleson, Texas, with his County Cooperative Liwife, Yildiz, and their three brary System (BCCLS) in children. Jeff can be reached Hackensack, N.J. He lives at Jeff. Janek@alconlabs.com. in Fairfield, N.J. Shankar Justin J. Redmond, M.S. Bhardwaj, M.S. ’04, is a ’11, works as a project manmerchant mariner with the ager with Power Concepts, International Organization LLC, in New York, N.Y. He of Masters, Mates and Pilots lives in Hoboken, N.J. in Pasadena, Texas. He lives Richard E.J. Glicini, in Houston with his wife, M.S. ’85, is a senior vice Shwetha; they have one president for People and Sodaughter. Paul Corrao, cial Responsibility at PearM.T.M. ’99, is president son Education in Saddle of Roxsolida Solutions in River, N.J. Hyunjae Ryan William L. Bolella, M.S. ’90, wed Teresita Tampa, Fla. He lives in Kim, M.Eng. ’04, Ph.D. Valenzuela on May 28, 2011, at Perona Farms Tampa. Robert W. Pet’09, works as a research sci- in Andover, N.J. William’s youngest brother, tiford, E.M.T.M. ’05, the Rev. Edmund F. Bolella, performed the entist with the NYU Center E.M.B.A. ’08, serves as service. Read more about the Bolellas and for Genomics and Systems their musical wedding in the Graduate Log. senior director, MicronetBiology in New York, N.Y. PHOTO: DENNIS BECKER, D. BECKER PHOTO works, with Time Warner He lives in Manhattan with Cable in Herndon, Va. He his wife, Na Seung Lee. Xiaoling Chen, Ph.D. ’10, lives in Leesburg, Va., with his wife, Antoinette, and works as a scientific programmer with the Universi- their two children. ty of Texas Health and Science at Houston. She lives Wedding Bells: Premal Sura, M.S. ’07, wed in Sugarland, Texas, with her husband, Zhanke Liu, Reena Gandhi on Jan. 26, 2011. The couple is living and their son. Linda Scanlon Beninghove, M.S. in Jersey City, N.J. William Bolella, M.S. ’90, wed ’03, is head of Reference and Research Services at the Teresita Valenzuela on May 28, 2011; they live in S.C. Williams Library at Stevens. She lives in Jersey Wantage, N.J. William shared his good news with City, N.J., with her husband, Bryan, and their the Alumni Office. (See photo above.) daughter. Ayush Mathur, M.S. ’10, sent an email to “It was a very musical wedding,” William writes. the Alumni Office telling us that he’s now an HCL “In addition to being a Stevens alumnus, I am also At the Madison Hotel in Morristown, N.J., at a Presidential Reception held last fall, William Bolella, M.S. ’90, left, with his wife, Teresita, chatted with William Sickles, M.S. ’04, and his wife, Jennifer NahviSickles, M.S. ’04.

50 The Stevens Indicator

Constantinos Barpoulis, M.S. ’64, at left, and his wife, Patricia, are enjoying a talk with Kenneth Rogers, Hon. M.Eng. ’64, Hon. D.Eng. ’87, the former president of Stevens, at the holiday party for the Stevens Alumni Club of Washington, D.C., held last December. Rogers was president of the University from 1972 to 1987.

a classically trained operatic tenor. Singing at the wedding were members of the Sussex County Oratorio Society plus Ms. Shana Timms, who has also sung at the New York City Opera. Of course, not to be left out, the groom sang a song to his beloved during the ceremony, as well as finished the evening with a short set of songs for the guests. I suppose the combination of degrees and music makes me the ‘techie tenor.’ ” When he’s not singing, William is president of Mountain Light Consulting, LLC, which provides IT audit, compliance and project management services. Moves: Leo Reich, Ph.D. ’59, a former research chemistry professor at Stevens, has given up New York weather for sunny Grange Queensland, Australia. Elizabeth Ellery Bailey, M.S. ’66, Hon. D.Eng. ’00, has traded in her New Jersey home for Reston, Va. Jugal Majethia, M.S. ’10, has moved from New Jersey to a new home in Lewisville, Texas. Tracy Ann Tropeano, M.S. ’09, is now living in Mint Hill, N.C. Edna Uybarreta, M.M.S. ’79, has given up New Jersey life for San Francisco, Calif. Also moving to California, to Oak Park, is Kenneth Myslik, M.S. ’62. Nazieh Masoud, Ph.D. ’04, has moved from New Jersey to Brookfield, Wisc. Patrick Ciriello, M.S. ’95, has left California and is living in Balti-

more, Vt. Also moving across country, but in the other direction, is Neha Dhawale, M.S. ’05, who left Jersey City, N.J., for Seattle, Wash. Roger D. St. Ours,, M. Eng. ’08, is now calling Saco, Maine, home. Joseph F. French, M.T.M. ’07, E.M.B.A. ’09, is now calling Hinesburg, Vt., home. Jordane Elmassian, M.S. ’04, has made a big change by moving from New York City to O’Fallon, Mo. OBITUARIES C. Walter Frankenfield, M.S. ’41 The Alumni Office has learned that C. Walter Frankenfield of Santa Rosa, Calif., died on Oct. 30, 2006. He was retired from Conoco Philips Petroleum Co., where he worked as a research engineer. Records show that he was married to Elsie. Joseph Lempert, M.S. ’43 The Alumni Office has learned that Joseph Lempert of Maplewood, N.J., died on Dec. 6, 2008. He was a physicist at Westinghouse Electric Co. for several years before retiring. Surviving are a daughter, Judith Springer; two sons, Eugene and Lawrence; and four grandchildren. William D. Leary, M. Eng. ’49 The Alumni Office has learned that William D. Leary of Rhinebeck, N.Y., died on Jan. 27, 2005. He was 62. Records show that he worked as a technologist for Texaco Co. Sidney S. Shamis, M.S. ’50 The Alumni Office has learned that Sidney S. Shamis of Chevy Chase, Md., died on Dec. 7, 2008. Records show that he was retired from Polytechnic Institute of New York, where he served as associate dean of engineering, and had a wife, Lillian.

Hormoz Nozari, M.Eng. ’75, Engineer*EE ’77, right, came to the Presidential Reception in Morristown, N.J., to hear Dr. Nariman Farvardin, left, speak about the future of Stevens.

James R. Summer, M.S. ’50 The Alumni Office has learned that James R. Summer of Miami Beach, Fla., died on Nov. 18, 2004. Winter 2011-2012 51

Records show that he worked for American Safety Equipment Corp. in Florida. Among his survivors is his wife, Lourdes. Gregory F. Vinci, M.S. ’50 The Alumni Office has learned that Gregory F. Vinci of Duluth, Ga., died on Oct. 4, 2009. Records show that he was a retired self-employed consultant. His wife, Lillian, is deceased, and he had a son, Gregory. Frederick R. Baser, M.S. ’51 Frederick R. Baser of West Caldwell, N.J., who was an environmental consultant for the United Nations, died on Nov. 6, 2010, in Cranes Mill, West Caldwell. Mr. Baser was a veteran of World War II, serving as captain in the 8th Army Air Corps. He enjoyed a 40-year career with NL Industries, New York, serving as an engineer, plant manager and an international environmental director before retiring in 1988. After his retirement, he began consulting on environmental issues for the U.N. Surviving are his wife of 65 years, Nettie; a son, Frederick K.; two daughters, Annette and Christine Habib; a sister; nine grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren. Kenneth J. McGuckin, M.S. ’51 Kenneth J. McGuckin of West Orange, N.J., a longtime employee of Worthington Pump and a World War II Navy veteran, died on Oct. 31, 2010. During the 34 years he worked at Worthington Pump, Mr. McGuckin was manager of quality assurance, manufacturing, foundries and vice president of operations for Harrison, N.J., and Taneytown, Md. Prior to that, he was an engineer with the American Can Co., Wright Aeronautical and M.W. Kellogg Co. Surviving are his wife, Winifred; a son, Michael; two daughters, Eileen and Kathleen; and five grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Harriet. Cornelius J. Keyser, M.S. ’53 Cornelius “Jack” Keyser, 88, of New Providence, N.J., a longtime employee with Bell Labs/Lucent Technologies, died on Nov. 18, 2010. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II. Mr. Keyser began his career with Bell Labs/ Lucent Technologies in New York City as manager of quality assurance and retired in 2001. Then, he began teaching math and statistics at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, N.J., retiring in 2006. He was predeceased by his wife, Virginia. Surviving are his wife, Jeanette; three daughters, Leslie Day, Jackie Callandriello and Linda; a son, Roger; and 10 grandchildren. 52 The Stevens Indicator

Cyrus F. Ault, M.S. ’55 The Alumni Office has learned that Cyrus F. Ault of Cherokee Village, Ark., died on Aug. 14, 2010. He worked as a supervisor for Lucent Technologies before retiring. Herman R. Jenisch, M.S. ’55 Herman R. Jenisch of Oakland, N.J., a retired employee of Plessey Corp. and devoted Stevens volunteer, died on Jan. 31, 2011. He was a retired senior administrator, engineer, manager and supervisor with Plessey for many years. He also worked for years with Curtiss-Wright Aeronautical and then Kearfott . Mr. Jenisch served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and was a Tec/Sgt. with the 84th Squadron Crew. He was very active with the Stevens Alumni Association and was a member of the Stevens Metropolitan Club. Mr. Jenisch received the Harold R. Fee ’20 Alumni Achievement Award in 1980 for his dedication to the SAA and Stevens. Surviving are his two sons, Walter and Robert; and a brother. His wife, Margaret, predeceased him in April 2010. Max C. Schramm, M.S. ’55 The Alumni Office has learned that Max C. Schramm of Virginia Beach, Va., died on Sept. 1, 2010. He was an applications engineer with General Electric Co., determining the electrical equipment needed to provide cities with required power. He worked for GE for 40 years before retiring. He also owned a small engineering consulting business and taught math courses at the Newark College of Engineering. Surviving are his daughter, Barbara Krekich; and two grandchildren. He wife of 66 years, Janet, predeceased him. Wilbur C. Smith, M.S. ’57 The Alumni Office has learned that Wilbur C. Smith of Pompton Plains, N.J., died on April 29, 2000. He was an engineer with Worthington Pump Corp., Harrison, N.J., before retiring. Alumni records show he was married to Eleanor. Philip Kuznetzoff, M.S. ’58 Philip Kuznetzoff of Bridgewater, N.J., a chemical engineer for 42 years, died on Nov. 17, 2010. He began his career at Harrison Tube Co., then worked for RCA in Bridgewater, David Sarnoff Laboratories in Princeton, N.J., and finally at Allied Signal in Morristown, N.J., before retiring in 1994. Mr. Kuznetzoff was an active member of Temple Sholom, Bridgewater.

Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Beverly; a son, Jess; two daughters, Meryl Deane and Tina Abarelli; a brother; nine grandchildren; and seven greatgrandchildren. His daughter, Mindy Van Vleet, predeceased him in 2008. George B. Miller, M.S. ’58 The Alumni Office has learned that George B. Miller of Lakewood, Ohio, died on Oct. 7, 1991. Alumni records show that he was a programmer/analyst for Western Union, Mahwah, N.J. John Ciancia, M.S. ’60 The Alumni Office has learned that John Ciancia of Old Bridge, N.J., died on March 13, 2008. He was an industrial project coordinator with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 2, Edison, N.J., before retiring. Arthur J. Secor, M.S. ’60 The Alumni Office has learned that Arthur J. Secor of Ticonderoga, N.Y., died on Oct. 14, 2009. He was a supervisor in the warehousing department for the Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA) before he retired. Myron Allen, M.S. ’61, Ph.D. ’73 The Alumni Office has learned that Myron Allen of Silver Spring, Md., died on May 20, 2010. Surviving is his wife, Hannette. Dow H. Rich, M.S. ’61 The Alumni Office has learned that Dow H. Rich of West Caldwell, N.J., a longtime CurtissWright employee, died on Aug. 4, 2010. He was 87. The majority of Mr. Rich’s career in engineering was spent in the electronics division of CurtissWright in East Rutherford, then in Elmwood Park, both in New Jersey. He served as department head in designing and building flight simulators and spent more than 22 years at the company. After leaving Curtiss-Wright, he taught math at Union County Technical Institute and then worked in commercial programming and point-of-sale programming at Sweda International from 1972-80. Mr. Rich finished his career at ITT in Nutley, N.J., working in electronic counter measure programming, software engineering and technical writing. He retired in 1988. Surviving are his daughter, the Rev. Barbara Stephens-Rich; a sister; two grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren. His wife of 43 years, Elizabeth “Betty” Brann, predeceased him. Howard S. Wahlberg, M.S. ’61 Howard S. Wahlberg of Yarmouthport, Mass., a longtime AT&T Technologies employee, died on Nov. 7, 2010.

He retired from Bell Systems/AT&T Technologies after 43 years as manager of engineering. He held various positions, all in the field of engineering, at many locations. He was listed in 1977’s “Who’s Who in Engineering.” Surviving are his wife, Marie; a son, Craig; a daughter, Pamella Pingeton; and two grandchildren. Thomas A. Owens, Jr., M.S. ’62 Thomas A. Owens, Jr., of Marco Island, Fla., the chief financial officer of AT&T who won the Silver Star, died on Nov. 23, 2010. He was 88. He served a decorated tour of duty in the Army during World War II and was discharged in 1946 as a 2nd lieutenant. He fought in Normandy, the Battle of Brest, the Battle of the Bulge and throughout the Hedgerows. His bravery earned him the Bronze Star and the Silver Star. Mr. Owens was the chief financial officer of AT&T and CenTel. After retirement in 1985, he moved to Marco Island permanently. His wife, Evelyn, predeceased him. Surviving are his wife, Donna; a son, James; a daughter, Ann Pehowich; his grandchildren; and his great-grandchildren. Gennaro V. Raso, M.S. ’62 Gennaro “Jerry” V. Raso of Holmdel, N.J., died on Oct. 7, 2010. Mr. Raso served with the Navy aboard the USS Pledge, a minesweeper operating in the Pacific Theater during World War II. His career included many years with Keuffel & Esser Co. and J&J Reproduction and Drafting Supplies, Columbia, Md. Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Christine; two daughters, Melinda and Adele; two sons, Dr. Carl and Dr. Louis; a sister; and nine grandchildren. Philip P. Rathke, M.Eng. ’67 Philip P. Rathke of Greer, S.C., died on March 24, 2009. Mr. Rathke owned a security firm in South Carolina. Alumni records show that he was married to Lois and had four sons, Kip, Paul, Kevin and Craig. William J. Catena, M.S. ’68 William J. Catena of Montville, N.J., died on April 5, 2006. Alumni records show that he was a senior development associate at National Starch and Chemical Corp., Bridgewater, N.J. Alumni records also show that he had a son, Larry. David C. Myers, Ph.D. ’78 David C. Myers of Charlotte, N.C., died on Nov. 25, 2010. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Jan; two children, Craig and Alex; and three grandchildren. Winter 2011-2012 53

Vital Statistics Marriages —Ronald M. Yannone ’76 to Jacqueline Montminy on May 22, 2011. —Derek La Penna ’03 to JoAnna Lore on Aug. 5, 2011. —Brad J. Miller ’06 to Caroline Cutter on July 1, 2011. —Kevin J. Clerkin, M.D., ’07 to Susan P. Meyers on Dec. 3, 2011. —Sean P. Whelan ’07 to Cristina A. Santoro on Sept. 4, 2011. —William L. Bolella, M.S. ’90, to Teresita Valenzuela on May 28, 2011. —Steven Warshawsky, M.Eng. ’06, to Cynthia M. Recca on Oct. 21, 2011. —Premal S. Sura, M.S. ’07, to Reena Gandhi on Jan. 26, 2011. —David Velasco ’07 to Valerie J. Byron ’08 on Dec. 29, 2011. New Arrivals —To Noreen and Michael F. Fabiano, Jr. ’93, a son, Michael F., III, on Aug. 12, 2011. —To Michelle K. Price Fox ’94 and Robert Fox ’04, a daughter, Madison Elizabeth, on Feb. 17, 2011. —To Laura and Craig A. Polk ’00, a daughter, Mikaela Simone, on Oct. 12, 2011. —To Monica Velasco Caldwell ’02 and Brian Caldwell, a son, Benjamin Gregory, on Sept. 3, 2011. —To Nicki and Joshua L. Ottinger ’06, M.Eng. ’06, a daughter, Grace, on Jan. 1, 2011. Obituaries L.H. Rive ’32 5/29/11 J.H. Bardes, Jr. ’34 4/25/11 T. Pagano ’35 2/13/12 C.H. Smoot ’36 4/21/11 E.C. Mathez ’37 4/17/11 R.S. Scott ’37 9/10/11 R.A. Kaprelian ’38 3/8/11 J.E. Barta ’40 11/14/11

54 The Stevens Indicator

J.E. Buhler, ex ’40 2/29/12 W.J. Burel ’41 3/29/11 H. Dankenbring ’41 9/2/11 N. Heinrich, Jr. ’41 7/27/11 R.W. Penney ’41 3/11/11 D.J. Price ’41 8/28/11 L. Stern ’41 4/28/11 S. Gollin ’42 2/24/12 R.H. Christensen ’43 5/25/03 J.W. Eckman, ex ’43 12/12/98 C.B. Grady, Jr. ’43 6/24/11 D.J. Blum ’45 12/12/11 W.P. Brotherton ’45 7/2/11 L. Dreyfuss ’45 10/25/11 R.C. Enes ’45 10/11/11 R.O. Grubel ’45 12/2/11 J.V. Hazlett ’45 1/20/12 R.J. Farquharson, Sr. ’46 6/28/11 J.M. Fitzpatrick ’46 7/22/11 D.E. Muchmore ’46 10/24/11 H.J. Ritmeester, Jr. ’46 10/27/11 R.W. Madan, ex ’47, Hon. M.E. ’87 11/19/10 C.H. Patterson, Jr. ’47 10/28/10 F.A. Ross, Jr. ’48 3/22/11 H.W. Bodemann ’49 1/8/12 W.R. Ellis ’49 11/17/11 T.E. Peirce ’49 4/8/11 J.A. Prestele ’49 4/29/11 J.P. Wickel, Jr. ’49 5/3/11 W. Zagieboylo ’49 8/24/08 G. Clarkson ’50 6/1/11 G.W. Fieser ’50 5/9/11 B.P. Fusco ’50 9/24/11 J.A. McKnight ’50 12/1/97 R. Mead ’50 3/20/11 R.C. Melvin ’50 11/9/11 A.B. Molten ’50 1/20/12 A.L. Porto ’50 12/4/11 A.J. Tenk ’50 5/4/11 J. Teufel, Jr. ’50 10/10/11 W.J. Thorpe ’50 2/20/12 J.A. Brown ’51 4/16/11 H.E. Holzschuh ’51 12/8/11 J.F. Kearney, Jr. ’51 3/8/11

E.H. Lutz ’51 A.A. Marvinney ’51

1/1/12 9/16/11

E.R. Muchmore ’51 12/8/11 H.G. Stanton, ex ’51 8/27/11 W. Whitney ’51 1/12/11 J.M. Barritt, Jr. ’52 1/10/12 H.P. Barry ’52 1/6/12 G.C. Brown ’52 4/11/11 C.R. Strain ’52 6/11/11 M.J. Travers ’52 11/17/11 T.J. Gyselinck ’53 5/11/11 R.J. Harper ’53 2/2/12 J. Movius ’53 7/12/11 R.J. Murphy ’54 12/9/11 H.F. Tietjen ’54 12/8/09 L.E. Callahan ’56 3/13/11 R.W. Taylor ’56 12/25/10 J.R. Cabaret ’57 2/18/11 G.W. Constantin ’57 1/2/12 P.J. Dikovics ’57 7/12/11 R.A. Hampson ’57 1/15/12 C.W. Contino ’60 11/16/11 J.L. Hodges ’61 10/20/11 L.W. Jacobi ’61 2/18/12 H.J. Krieg 9/1/11 G.V. Littell ’61 7/18/11 W.C. Martin ’61 Unknown E.W. Ryzowicz ’61 2/4/08 A.G. Ott ’62 10/18/07 O.R. Tarajano ’62 3/12/84 J. Hoyt ’63 10/10/11 R.H. Haehnel ’64 4/3/11 W.H. Trowbridge, Jr.’65 2/25/11 M.M. Bollar ’67 7/9/11 K.J. Gwozdz ’67 11/4/11 A.R. Illies ’67 7/17/06 R.A. Clayton ’69 7/14/11 J.A. Hoppe ’69 5/26/11 A.D. Cherdak ’70 5/5/11 A.R. Gornstein ’72 3/30/11 G.M. Pelat ’72 6/4/11 R.B. Odell, Jr. ’73 1/6/12 A.P. Lappin ’77 5/21/11 J.J. LeVander ’78 6/29/11 W.J. Krause ’79 5/5/08 K.J. Levesque ’86 7/6/11

Graduate School + C.W. Frankenfield, M.S. ’41 10/30/06 A.R. Ciuffreda, M.S. ’43 12/2/11 + J. Lempert, M.S. ’43 12/6/08 L.E. Erickson, M.S. ’47 Unknown G. Ingram, Jr., M.S. ’48 11/29/11 R.G. Salamon, M.S. ’48 11/19/11 A.A. Alexander, M.S. ’49 1/4/11 + W.D. Leary, M.Eng. ’49 1/27/05 E.R. Lender, M.S. ’50 11/24/11 + S.S. Shamis, M.S. ’50 12/7/08 + J.R. Summer, M.S. ’50 11/18/04 + G.F. Vinci, M.S. ’50 10/4/09 C.A. Walton, M.S. ’50 11/6/11 + F.R. Baser, M.S. ’51 11/6/10 R.P. Haycock, M.S. ’51 10/29/11 J.W. Kelly, M.S. ’51 10/1/11 R. Lowell, M.S. ’51 9/18/11 + K.J. McGuckin, M.S. ’51 10/31/10 J. McLay, Jr., M.S. ’51 9/22/11 P.M. Belous Berger, M.S. ’53 7/16/11

W.F. Johnson, Jr., M.S. ’53 12/26/10 + C.J. Keyser, M.S. ’53 11/18/10 C.G. Morrison, M.S. ’53 10/20/11 L.G. Taber, M.S. ’54 8/18/11 + C.F. Ault, M.S. ’55 8/14/10 + H.R. Jenisch, M.S. ’55 1/31/11 + M.C. Schramm, M.S. ’55 9/1/10 M. Birnbaum, M.S. ’56 12/20/11 J.W. Clark, M.S. ’56 11/17/11 H.A. Helm, M.S. ’56, Ph.D. ’63 1/7/10 M.A. Popkin, M.S. ’56 8/26/11 + W.C. Smith, M.S. ’57 4/29/00 A.W. Collins, M.S. ’58 10/23/11 + P. Kuznetzoff, M.S. ’58 11/17/10 + G.B. Miller, M.S. ’58 10/7/91 M. Sarakwash, M.S. ’58 9/23/11 S.J. Di Paolo, M.S. ’59 12/12/11 + J. Ciancia, M.S. ’60 3/13/08 M. Lazan, M.S. ’60 1/26/10 + A.J. Secor, M.S. ’60 10/14/09 + M. Allen, M.S. ’61, Ph.D. ’73 5/20/10

R.C. King, Sc.D. ’61 2/12/12 + D.H. Rich, M.S. ’61 8/4/10 + H.S. Wahlberg, M.S. ’61 11/7/10 J.M. Barstow, Jr., M.S. ’62 3/31/11 + T.A. Owens, Jr., M.S. ’62 11/23/10 + G.V. Raso, M.S. ’62 10/7/10 T.F. Cannon, M.S. ’63 1/7/12 P.J. Fischetti, M.S. ’63 1/14/12 R.S. Graule, M.S. ’63 1/15/12 J.J. Ponce, M.M.S. ’67 8/13/11 + P.P. Rathke, M.Eng. ’67 3/24/09 + W.J. Catena, M.S. ’68 4/5/06 V.B. Cunningham, II, M.M.S. ’76 Unknown + D.C. Myers, Ph.D. ’78 11/25/10 J.P. Giordano, M.S. ’83 8/8/11 A.M. Smith, M.Eng. ’94 9/28/11 Faculty G.J. Yevick, Hon. M.Eng. ’58 10/6/11 H. Dorn, Hon. M.Eng. ’81 11/1/11 J.M. Johnson, Hon. M.Eng. ’84 4/23/11 + Obituary in this issue

Winter 2011-2012 55

Looking back

This Jan. 27, 1971, photo highlights an open house on campus, where high school students were invited to tour the campus and see what Stevens has to offer. Just a month prior, the Board of Trustees voted to accept women as undergraduates, truly changing the face of the Institute forever.

56 The Stevens Indicator

Give to Stevens, Get Income for Life:

CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITIES

What is a Charitable Gift Annuity? Sometimes referred to as a C G A , it ’s a simple agreement bet ween you and Stevens Institute of Te chnolog y. You c an establish a Charitable Gift Annuit y with a minimum g i f t o f $10 , 0 0 0 . T h e annuitant must be at least 65 years of age when the annuit y payments begin.

Stevens is pleased to introduce our new director of planned giving, Michael Governor, to the development team.

HOW IT WORKS

YOUR BENEFITS

1. YOU TRANSFER CASH OR SECURITIES TO STEVENS.

5 FIXED ANNUAL INCOME AT A FAVORABLE RATE OF RETURN FOR YOURSELF (AND/OR ANOTHER PERSON YOU CHOOSE) FOR LIFE

2. YOU RECEIVE AN INCOME TAX DEDUCTION AND MAY SAVE CAPITAL GAINS TAXES. STEVENS PAYS A FIXED AMOUNT EACH YEAR TO YOU AND/OR ANYONE YOU NAME FOR LIFE. TYPICALLY, A PORTION OF THESE PAYMENTS IS TAX-FREE. 3. WHEN THE GIFT ANNUITY ENDS, ITS REMAINING PRINCIPAL PASSES TO STEVENS.

5 THE POTENTIAL FOR INCOME APPRECIATION IF YOUR GIFT IS FUNDED WITH LOW-YIELDING ASSETS 5 A PORTION OF YOUR ANNUITY INCOME WILL USUALLY BE TAX FREE 5 INCOME TAX DEDUCTION FOR A PORTION OF YOUR GIFT 5 FAVORABLE CAPITAL GAINS TAX TREATMENT WHEN YOU FUND YOUR GIFT WITH APPRECIATED SECURITIES 5 MEMBERSHIP IN THE LEGACY SOCIETY

SAMPLE CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY RATES* AGE

RATE

4.7%

5.1%

5.8%

6.8%

7.8%

9.0%

IMMEDIATE PAYMENTS (ONE LIFE) RATES EFFECTIVE 1/1/12 – 12/31/12 *NOT AVAILABLE IN ALL STATES. SPECIAL RATES APPLY FOR TWO LIFE AND DEFERRED PAYMENT GIFT ANNUITIES.

Michael has spent the past 12 years in gift planning, assisting alumni and their families in gift planning for their — or their loved ones’ — alma mater. The inclusion of Stevens Institute in your financial and estate plan is a tremendous vote of confidence in the institution. Whether your gift to Stevens is planned to retain a life income, such as a charitable gift annuity, or you have included a bequest provision for Stevens in your will, Stevens celebrates such farsighted support and commitment through membership in the Legacy Society. To discuss planned giving options available at Stevens one-on-one, please contact:

Michael Governor Director of Planned Giving 201-216-8967 michael.governor@stevens.edu

Stevens Alumni Association Stevens Institute of Technology Castle Point Hoboken, NJ 07030

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Stevens Institute of Technology

Change Service Requested

Solutions for the Medical Device Industry /UR IN HOUSE EXPERTISE INCLUDES

s s s s s s s s s s

Design for Manufacturability Dedicated Prototype Resources Seamless and Drawn Tubes Metal Injection Molding Plastic Injection and Insert Molding Precision Sharpening Laser Cutting, Welding and Marking Electropolishing Precision Machining Custom Assemblies

MICRO is a full-service contract manufacturer committed to satisfying the ever-challenging needs of medical device OEMs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the most innovative and active developers of new products in the world. A triumph of full vertical integration, we have the capabilities required to work with our customers from concept to commercialization. Services include R&D support; engineering and design capabilities; prototyping through validation; and full-scale, high-volume production. We offer a full range of low-cost, high-quality tubing solutions for the medical device market, custom-made at our dedicated tubing fabrication facility using the latest fully integrated lasercutting technology. Our medical components, subassemblies and assemblies are known by our customers the world over for their superlative design and construction.

To learn how MICROâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team can fulfill your specific needs, please contact us at: sales@micro-co.com. &$! 2EGISTERED s )3/ s )3/ s )3/ s )3/ 43

-)#2/ "ELMONT $RIVE 3OMERSET .* 53! 4EL s &AX s WWW MICRO CO COM

)UDQN - 6HPFHU 6U %( &ODVV RI Â&#x2021; %DKLU ,EUDKLP 060( &ODVV RI Â&#x2021; %ULDQ 6HPFHU 070 &ODVV RI Â&#x2021; 9LFHQWH 0DQDOR 06&6 &ODVV RI 6WHYHQ -DFREVHQ %60( &ODVV RI Â&#x2021; 0DULHO 0HQDIUD %( %0( &ODVV RI Â&#x2021; 'RPLQLFN 'XQVWRQ 0( &ODVV RI MSC-3045-R2